BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Dortmund will need to calm down after Nico Schlotterbeck’s criticism of his teammates before facing Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
In Wednesday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, the defender did not hold back when he accused substitutes Selou Guirassi and Karim Adeyemi of “losing all the balls after the game” and other teammates for “playing very careless”.
The performance revived old wounds and questions about the team’s mentality, which Schlotterbeck alluded to when he said the players were playing “a little bit of their own game” and lacked the ability to finish games.
“It’s a matter of quality whether you finish the game or not. If you don’t finish the game and you get a throw-in and you can’t clear it and it’s 2-2, that’s not enough,” Schlotterbeck said.
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl and coach Niko Kovac also had harsh words for the team, but Schlotterbeck’s criticism has taken on added weight amid questions over his future at the club.
major matches
Bayern Munich, who lead the league, entertain Mainz on Sunday. The outlook doesn’t look bright for the visiting team, who are at the bottom of the table. They haven’t won in the Bundesliga since September and lost again last weekend under interim manager Benjamin Hoffman. Bayern have won all but one game.
Bayern’s closest challengers, Leipzig, visit Union Berlin on Friday for a grudge match, with home fans likely to protest again against the visitors’ support and the establishment of an energy drinks company.
Bayer Leverkusen host local rivals Cologne in the Rhinederby on Saturday.
Featured players
Bayern star Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as a substitute against Stuttgart last weekend and will be looking to add to his tally of 17 goals in 13 league games so far.
Bayern’s new darling is 17-year-old Lennart Karl, who scored a stunning goal to help his side beat Sporting Lisbon 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Leipzig’s Yann Diomande scored a hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, making him the second-youngest Bundesliga player to do so at 19 years and 22 days. Only 18-year-old Walter Bechtold was younger than him when he scored a hat-trick for Frankfurt in 1965.
Who is out?
Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick is likely to miss the derby after sustaining an ankle injury in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle in the Champions League.
Dortmund also have injury concerns after Waldemar Anton and Aaron Anselmino were sent off in the draw against Bodø/Glimt.
There was also good news for Bayern as Alphonso Davies made his return against Sporting after nine months out with a serious knee injury.
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