Bundesliga: BVB after gala with new title courage

Bundesliga
BVB after gala with new title courage

Dortmund’s players celebrate the victory in front of the south stand. photo

© Bernd Thissen/dpa

Oliver Kahn predicts a “super-exciting” final for the cup. Goal magic like 6-0 alone will not be enough for Borussia Dortmund. The Munich motto: “Keep your nerves” and win three times.

The euphoric Dortmund stars did not allow themselves to be carried away to a brisk title slogan or even a challenge to FC Bayern after their goal gala. But in the initial joy about the 6-0 spectacle against VfL Wolfsburg, Sebastian Kehl at least gave a small BVB greeting – also to the league leaders from Munich.

“That makes an impression. One or the other will have sat in front of the television today and said, that’s an exclamation point,” commented the sporting director on Borussia’s biggest win of the season.

The Munich team, who won 2-1 in Bremen, remain one point ahead at the top of the table. But the tenth home win in a row was a great encouragement for Borussia for the championship finish, whose decision Bayern boss Oliver Kahn expects in the last few meters of a spectacular season. “I think it will remain super exciting until the last day of the game,” predicted Kahn – even before the Dortmund Football Festival.

But after too many slips in the title race, the goal party alone does nothing for BVB. “The season showed us how crazy it is and how many problems almost all clubs had. We will do everything to ensure that it stays crazy and that we have something to celebrate in the end,” said coach Edin Terzic full of hope another blunder by Bayern and another change in leadership.

Bayern want to keep nerves

“We look at ourselves. It’s important that we have nerves, that we keep our nerves and stay calm every game,” said Munich’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic after the win in a “small final towards the championship”. The eleventh national league championship in a row is possible on its own. Home games against Schalke and Leipzig, and finally the game at 1. FC Köln are the Bayern tests. Dortmund can play in the home fortress against Mönchengladbach and finally against Mainz. Before that we go to Augsburg. Curious: The two rivals only play at the same time on the last matchday.

Sports director Kehl has rarely wished Dortmund’s archrival FC Schalke a win more than at their game on Saturday in Munich. “We wouldn’t be mad if we got a little help,” commented the former BVB professional, “we need help. We have to be that honest.” This is also Bayern’s big title trump card. But in a season with so many ups and downs for the two top German clubs, anything seems possible. “It’s far from decided. Our faith is definitely still there,” said Dortmund international Emre Can.

It fits the image of a team hungry for success that Karim Adeyemi had to be cheered up by his congenial team-mate Jude Bellingham (54/86) despite a gala performance that was crowned with two goals (14th/59th). The missed penalty in the 64th minute diminished the joy of his best game in a BVB jersey: “I ruined my day a bit. I was inconsolable at that moment.”

With the prospect of his first Bundesliga hat-trick, the 21-year-old tried to take the penalty and even persuaded regular shooter Marco Reus, who had just been substituted on, to give him the ball. Adeyemi looked back ruefully: “I’d rather give the ball to Marco, that would have been better. First of all it’s about the team and not about me.”

Terzic full of praise

But on a day like this, everyone in Dortmund could easily get over Adeyemi’s missed shot. Terzic was nevertheless full of praise for the fastest Bundesliga player according to speed measurements: “Of his estimated 100 actions, 99 were really good. The way he used his almost 37 km/h today was outstanding.” The fact that Bellingham, despite recent speculation about a move to Real Madrid, was in great form and that veteran Mats Hummels earned top marks as a tireless tackler, spoke for Terzic’s work in the past few days.

It’s hard to imagine how a team with such qualities could lose the lead in the table in Bochum (1-1) a week ago. Or against the relegation candidates Schalke (2: 2) and Stuttgart (3: 3) also had to be content with a draw. Terzic recalled the low mood on the last match day: “Just a week ago I had to answer stupid questions. Maybe it’s the season of setbacks. But it’s about getting up and showing that you can do better.”

dpa

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