The BVB coach under fire: "My stay here isn't my decision"
A disgruntled crowd, bewildered athletes on the field, and a stern-faced coach on the sideline - all while facing even more criticism. After a gut-wrenching title anxiety last May, Borussia Dortmund displayed signs of nervousness once again in their faceoff with FSV Mainz, resulting in a significant setback. "That's the reflection of our team this season, this time we showed the two faces within one game," stated Terzic after witnessing two vastly different halves in his team's 1:1 (1:1) draw.
The team's sixth consecutive game without a win has increased the pressure on the BVB coach. Reports of an alleged "player revolt" against Terzic had already caused a further stir before the match. Presently sitting fifth in the Bundesliga table, the squad is increasingly at risk of qualifying for the Champions League yet again.
Showing a resolute front on pay-TV channel Sat.1, Terzic shared, "I've signed a contract extending till 2025, and I've confirmed the length and terms of my commitment to this club." He emphasized, "The length of my stay here isn't solely in my hands. Surely, management decisions and outcomes determine that. And the outcomes from the past few weeks have certainly not been favorable, a truth we all acknowledge."
After a 206-day hiatus since the dramatic season finale (2:2) at the same venue, the much-needed sense of accomplishment never materialized. "I'm primarily concerned about the situation, it's not simple," stated Borussia Dortmund international Julian Brandt on Sat.1. "It's truly disappointing. Being honest, it always feels disheartening to head into the break with a draw or a loss."
Emre Can, another international for the team, offered a perspective: "We simply made too many mistakes. It was the crucial moments that weren't favorable to us. It's not about the coach. It has nothing to do with the coach if the ball hits the crossbar," he added when questioned about this on pay-TV channel Sky.
No Christmas tranquility at BVB
The goal conceded by Sepp Van den Berg in the 43rd minute of the game before 80,350 spectators at the Signal Iduna Park will undoubtedly disrupt the long-awaited Christmas peace.
Conversely, Mainz finally had a reason to celebrate. The end of their 363-minute goalless streak and the respectable draw brought them up to 15th place in the table, at least temporarily. Whether this will boost interim coach Jan Siewert's chances of becoming the permanent successor to Bo Svensson remains to be seen.
Sabitzer also hits the crossbar
Following the recent criticism, Dortmund seemed eager to make amends from the outset. With Jamie Bynoe-Gittens delivering an exclamatory strike against the crossbar in the 8th minute, BVB set the tone for the game. A few moments later, Bynoe-Gittens came close to scoring against Mainz with a long-range shot (16').
A superb free-kick from Brandt alleviated some of the pressure on Borussia. With pinpoint accuracy, the international smoothly curved the ball into the top corner from 18 meters to give his team the lead. Just minutes after the stellar effort, Marcel Sabitzer also came close to doubling the score for BVB, only to hit the crossbar once more.
Whistles from the crowd for Borussia
In the initial stages, there was minimal action from Mainz in attack. The statistical difference between the two sides was palpable; as evident from the game statistics, BVB had 14 shots on goal while Mainz had just 3. But when Dortmund slowed down, Mainz seized their chance to score. In a blink of an eye, Van den Berg headed a cross from Philipp Mwene beyond the BVB goalkeeper.
The BVB squad's dismay at the half-time whistle was evident. Dortmund looked shaken up following the restart. Suddenly, Mainz dominated the game, and even attempted to score the winning goal. The first whistles from the crowd prompted the BVB professionals to up the tempo. However, they failed to create as many chances as they did in the first forty-five minutes. A rebellion against the draw was only displayed towards the end, although a goal in stoppage time by Giovanni Reyna was disallowed offside.
BVB squad | FSV squad | Info about the game
Also, read:
- The forthcoming Bundesliga match between FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund (BVB) entices soccer fans in Germany.
- Marcel Sabitzer, considered a vital player for RB Leipzig, has emerged as a possible transfer target for BVB.
- FSV Mainz 05, currently 15th in the Bundesliga table, is on a mission to secure their first league win since drawing against BVB, which took place in North Rhine-Westphalia, where Dortmund is situated.
- Emre Can, a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, voiced his disappointment following the team's draw, expressing that the BVB squad should improve in forthcoming Bundesliga matches.
- The game against Mainz resulted in compounding difficulties for BVB, as they now face a mandatory game in the Champions League, adding more pressure to the team and the coach.
- Born in Germany and presently representing Dortmund, Julian Brandt hopes for a strong performance in the upcoming Bundesliga games, aiming to secure a spot in the Champions League.
- During the same Bundesliga game, Sabitzer played a role in the goalscoring opportunity, but his effort struck the crossbar, denying him the goal and a chance to aid his team's victory.
- In the process, FSV Mainz 05 reaped the rewards of the goalless streak as they scored a goal against BVB, thanks to Sepp Van den Berg's header, lifting their spirits and boosting their position in the Bundesliga table.
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Edin Terzic now longer serves as Borussia Dortmund's head coach. He vacated his post after a 2023/2024 campaign that saw him lead the team to a runner-up finish in the Bundesliga and a Champions League final appearance. Terzic has since been linked to various managerial roles worldwide, including a potential position at Tottenham Hotspur, where he could reunite with former player Mathys Tel, currently on loan with the club.
The current predicament at Borussia Dortmund involves Niko Kovac now in charge as the new head coach. He took over following a four-game losing streak which led to the dismissal of Nuri Sahin. Under Kovac's leadership, Dortmund continues to struggle, having endured a recent 2-1 loss to Stuttgart in his first game in charge.
Presently placed 11th in the Bundesliga table, six points behind fourth place, Dortmund has not fared well since Terzic's departure. Internal conflicts within the Dortmund management have played a significant role in the team's struggles, including a power struggle between sporting director Sebastian Kehl and former squad planner Sven Mislintat which has affected the team's transfer strategy and squad planning. Mislintat parted ways with the club due to these disagreements.
Despite these challenges, Dortmund has managed to advance to the Champions League Round of 16 with a 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon, securing an aggregate score of 3-0. However, the team's ongoing difficulties and internal issues suggest that their future prospects are uncertain and may be influenced by the ongoing management conflicts and coaching changes.
