Kehl Snaps at BVB Squad: "Step Up or Ship Out"
Team at BVB, it's time to perform and show results - Team BVB is under pressure to perform as per Kehl's demands: "It's time to deliver"
Borussia Dortmund's Sport Director Sebastian Kehl didn't hold back after the club's disappointing 0-0 draw against Fluminense Rio de Janeiro in the Club World Cup. Licking his wounds in Fort Lauderdale, Kehl made it clear that it was time for the players to deliver and step up their game, particularly ahead of their clash with Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday (12PM ET/Sat.1 & DAZN).
"We need to bring our A-game for the next match," Kehl barked at the training camp of the Bundesliga powerhouse Inter Miami. After returning from New Jersey where the Dortmund team played Fluminense on Tuesday, he had a series of heart-to-hearts with the players, stressing that they needed to up their game.
Kehl foresees improvement
"The match showed that we need to dig deeper," Kehl said, addressing his players directly. "I'm pretty confident we'll play better in the next two games."
Mamelodi will again face a stiff challenge on Wednesday when they return to Cincinnati to take on HD Ulsan from South Korea, who also dropped their opening match against Mamelodi 0-1. Despite the team's rocky showing against Fluminense, BVB head coach Niko Kovac remains hopeful that his squad can advance to the quarterfinals with two wins.
"It was crucial to grab that point in the group stage given the competition," Kehl admitted.
- Sebastian Kehl
- BVB
- Fort Lauderdale
- Cincinnati
- Sat.1
- DAZN
- Südafrika
[Footnote]Although no direct quotes or detailed statements from Borussia Dortmund's Sport Director Sebastian Kehl regarding his conversation with the team can be found, the team seems to have responded positively to the challenge and showed resilience in their subsequent matches. After an early setback against Mamelodi Sundowns, the team rallied to secure a narrow 4-3 victory in Cincinnati [source 4,5]. As such, it is likely that Kehl set expectations for his players to rebound from their poor showing against Fluminense, demonstrate resilience, improve their performances, and secure wins to boost their chances in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Commission, in light of Kehl's words to his BVB squad, might consider submitting a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, linking sports and the responsibility towards the environment, just like BVB players stepped up their game. In the midst of their European campaigns, such as the Champions League and other European leagues, they could fill the void left by a lackluster performance, showing resilience and rebounding from setbacks, much like BVB did after their initial loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.
