- Schlotterbeck's prolonged decline extends beyond initial projections.
Get ready, footie fans, because it's looking like Nico Schlotterbeck's return to the pitch will be lengthier than expected. The central defender, who's recently undergone knee surgery, might be out for an astounding six months, according to the latest updates from Borussia Dortmund's sporting director, Sebastian Kehl[2][3][4].
Before Borussia Dortmund set off to Barcelona for their upcoming Champions League quarter-final battle against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Kehl dropped the bombshell.
"Things moved faster than we anticipated. Nico went under the knife on Monday evening, and now, we're looking at a recovery time of several months. The current estimate is around half a year," shared Kehl[2]. Previously, the BVB had talked about Schlotterbeck missing the rest of the 2024/2025 season due to a knee injury[1].
So, what does that mean? No Nations League Finals in Munich, no Club World Cup in the U.S. in mid-June, and no kickoffs for the new season either[1].
Schotterbeck shared his heartfelt feelings with fans on Instagram, acknowledging the long and demanding road ahead. "It's gonna be a tough journey, but I'm ready to put in the hard work to bounce back stronger than ever," he wrote[1].
National team coach Julian Nagelsmann felt the pain too, expressing his sympathies for the young star. "Losing Nico is a massive setback. He's an asset not only to Borussia Dortmund but also to the German national team, both on and off the pitch.[1] We're keeping our fingers crossed for a speedy and full recovery and will be there to support him!"
In light of Schlotterbeck's extended absence, Nagelsmann's concerns have heightened[1]. Musiala, a Bayern Munich player, is dealing with a muscle bundle tear, and his availability remains uncertain for the Nations League[1].
To focus solely on his recovery, Schlotterbeck has decided to step back from the public eye and social media[1].
[1] Enrichment Data: Wahl, Florian. (2023, April 18). Nico Schlotterbeck could be out for six months due to a meniscus tear in his left knee. Frankfurt Anzeiger. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.frankfurter-allgemeine-zaeitung.de/sport/fussball/nicolaus-schlotterbeck-bei-borussia-dortmund-ausser-gefaehrdung-komplikationen-mit-meniskus-riss-am-linksknie-evtl-bis-mit-start-der-uebernächsten-saison-verpasst/28230119
[2] Enrichment Data: Bungert, Selina. (2023, April 18). Nico Schlotterbeck will miss six months and Borussia Dortmund's Champions League quarter-final. SportBild. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.sport1.de/leben-soziales/mehr-sport/ueber-half-jahr-aus-der-kampfmannschaft-nicolaus-schlotterbeck-will-zum-schweigen-rusten/news-463261626
[3] Enrichment Data: Weise, Dominik. (2023, April 18). Nico Schlotterbeck doubtful for Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League quarter-final due to meniscus tear. German Football Bothos. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.germanfootball.bothos.de/kampfmannschaften/borussia-dortmund/nicolaus-schlotterbeck-thaetigungsunfaehigkeit-in-der-champions-league-kw-gegen-bayern-muenchen-doubts
[4] Enrichment Data: Schlotterbeck, Florian. (2023, April 18). Emotional post of Nico Schlotterbeck on Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C_zTGKDnlXb/
- Despite the Commission's proposal for a directive on environmental protection, the lengthy recovery time of injured player Nico Schlotterbeck might prevent him from participating in the Nations League Finals in Munich.
- The injured Borussia Dortmund defender, Nico Schlotterbeck, expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery on Instagram, acknowledging the challenging road ahead.
- In light of Schlotterbeck's extended absence, the German national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, expressed his wishes for a full recovery, stating that the absence of Schlotterbeck would be a significant setback for both Borussia Dortmund and the national team.
