Borussia Dortmund flew to Manchester on Tuesday afternoon. BVB director Lars Ricken discusses the squad and the match.
BVB flew to Manchester on Tuesday afternoon – Julian Brandt and Niklas Süle were not on the flight, but Nico Schlotterbeck was. Managing Director Lars Ricken answered reporters’ questions at the airport: “We’re coming off a perfect week with three wins; we’ve now won four in a row.”
These wins would give the team a sense of security and confidence in the locker room, which the team will also need against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday evening (9 p.m.), “one of the biggest challenges in European soccer.” BVB’s goal remains to stay among the top teams in the Champions League: “We’re ready to take home some points.”
When asked whether Schlotterbeck, who had recently been ill, was fit to play 90 minutes, Ricken replied: “If he’s there, you can count on it.” Schlotterbeck was on site and busily signed jerseys for the fans.
BVB had only managed a hard-fought victory against Augsburg in their last match. Ricken highlighted the team’s strengths and weaknesses: “Everyone is aware that we need to improve. Defensively, we’re top-notch—we’ve now kept six clean sheets in the Bundesliga, which is a top European record. But it’s clear to everyone: When we have the ball, we can’t just rely on our efficiency; we have to create scoring chances more creatively.”
With twelve goals scored in the Champions League, Dortmund is one of the most dangerous teams in front of goal—according to Ricken, the match promises to be a spectacle. Especially since the opponent has Erling Haaland, a former Dortmund player and currently one of the best strikers in the world. “He’s truly exceptional; he borders on perfection. He’s the driving force behind this team; it’ll help if we take him out of the game,” Ricken said about the Norwegian.
But that shouldn’t unsettle the team: “I think we’re solid defensively; we have center backs who will make life difficult for him. And let’s not forget: We also have Guirassy, a striker who was the top scorer in the Champions League last year. We don’t need to hide.”