Borussia Dortmund won the U19 derby against FC Schalke this year. After the game, there was praise – but also a small barb from BVB coach Mike Tullberg.
No derby in the Bundesliga. No derby in the regional league. With its first two teams, Borussia Dortmund is currently a league ahead of FC Schalke 04.
Only in the junior leagues are there currently still regional derbies between royal blue and black and yellow. The highest-ranking team in the U19, BVB, won 2-1 (1-0) on Wednesday evening in the Park Stadium in front of 770 fans. Paris Brunner and Kjell-Arik Wätjen scored for Dortmund. Substitute Edion Gashi cut the deficit to one goal for Schalke with ten minutes remaining after Bilal Brusdeilins had just missed a penalty for Schalke.
This result cements BVB’s position as the dominant team in the A-Junior Bundesliga West. They now lead S04 by twelve points after 17 games. No wonder that Dortmund coach Mike Tullberg was satisfied after the game. “We didn’t win against them with the U17. And they have twice become West German champions with the U17. That’s why it was hard work,” explained Tullberg after the game. What he means: the same players played against each other in the U17 about a year ago.
Tullberg summarized the status quo: “17 games, one defeat.”
Nevertheless, it was a hard-fought victory: “It wasn’t our game, given the conditions,” said Tullberg. He said his team was only partially on par with the opponent in terms of physicality. “They were already a step ahead of us there,” said the BVB coach.
This time we needed luck and a good goalkeeper
Mike Tullberg
“It was a tough fight, a somewhat lucky win, because of the first 30 minutes in the second half, we deserved it. But we couldn’t have complained if it had ended in a draw. Schalke were better for the first 25 minutes and the last 15 minutes.” His conclusion: ”This time we needed luck and a good goalkeeper.”
With that, the black and yellow team under Tullberg are on their way to their third consecutive West German championship and will likely be unstoppable. “I started here four years ago. The first season was canceled when we were in first place. Then, if we make it, we will be West German champions three times in a row. I don’t think that’s ever happened to Borussia Dortmund before,” he said.
And then he sent a little barb in the direction of S04: “I think Schalke had that once 30 or 40 years ago, I don’t know exactly when.” The circumstances in the area have also changed significantly for the U19 due to the significantly different financial starting conditions.