Defeat in Gladbach reflects the whole season

And there really was nothing new to learn from this, it had all happened on previous occasions: it was the third time that BVB conceded a goal within the first minute. It sounds unbelievable at a first glance, because you just cannot be so lackadaisical. Sporting Director Michael Zorc commented with a big pinch of sarcasm: “that must be a world record.”

However it would be too easy to put all the blame on Mats Hummels in this situation (“my mistake, there is no way round it”). The captain slipped, which allowed Patrick Herrmann’s low pass to get through to Johnson in the middle. Roman Weidenfeller showed a great reaction, but Oscar Wendt’s shot from the rebound went in – 1-0 after 28 seconds. That’s a bitter pill to swallow: Hummels said himself that he had never slipped before up to then.

The 26 year old analysed the match as follows: “it was obvious from the first minute that we would go home with empty hands.” Head Coach Jürgen Klopp added: “the way this game started was about as unfortunate as you could imagine.” It was also nothing new that after going behind, BVB took control of the game, they played really well, they were strong in winning the ball and they also had 56 per cent possession. But it was also nothing new in that there was no danger on goal at all from Black Yellow.

Hummels: “we completely controlled the game – up to when Patrick Herrmann had his solo run.” The Gladbach winger first of all left Hummels high and dry, he went past another three Borussia players on his 55 metre solo run, then unselfishly squared the ball to Raffael – 2-0 (32^nd minute). That was the score at half time and it somewhat felt like the preliminary result.

“The first really bad game in a long time“

A change of system in the second half from 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 system did show an improvement, there seemed to be more thought and more direction in attack, however the lack of concentration persisted. Just after half time Herrmann couldn’t get past Weidenfeller (49^th minute), but the third goal still came. This time after a corner kick. This was also nothing new, as this has already happened seven times this season – the most times it has happened in the Bundesliga. Hummels: “this was the first really bad game we had in a long time. We set up the goal for the opponent for the 0-3… everything seemed to work in a negative kind of way in Gladbach.”

Sebastian Kehl could “not explain” these mistakes, Jürgen Klopp explained it as follows: “we tried everything in every situation. We challenged for the ball, we lost the ball and in the end the opponent runs at goal. That doesn’t make sense. For me every goal was just nonsense, even if there were various problems.”

As always BVB fortunately did not let the opponent take them apart, even if this was the first time they conceded three goals in the Bundesliga. Ilkay Gündogan (77^th minute) got a consolation goal in the last quarter of an hour to make it 1-3, so the defeat was still bearable. And who knows, if BVB would have made it 2-3…

Thank God it was also nothing new that nothing much has changed for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga table. BVB is in tenth place. The gap to the relegation places is six points. The gap to sixth in the table is six points, and this would lead to qualification for the Europa League. You could not be more mid-table.

Hardly anything changed in the table

It is unlikely that the team will go further down the table mainly due to the weak teams around them. It totally depends on the will, the attitude and the performances of BVB as to whether they will climb the table. Seventh place is realistic if BVB win their two forthcoming home games against Paderborn and Frankfurt. It is even possible that this place would be enough to qualify for European competition. Hummels: “we need to win these points so that we don’t slip down the table.” (fu)