Schlotterbeck issues warning to Dortmund after Bochum defeat: “Otherwise it will be a horror season…”

Nico Schlotterbeck says Borussia Dortmund must get their “basics” right if they are to avoid a “horror season”.

Borussia Dortmund went into Saturday’s derby against Bochum full of confidence following their 3-0 away win over Sporting CP in the Champions League.

However, as so many times before this season, a good performance in Europe was followed by a disappointing one in the Bundesliga as the Black and Yellows slipped to a 2-0 defeat.

The result leaves Dortmund in 11th place in the Bundesliga, and Nico Schlotterbeck warns that they need to get the fundamentals right if they are to avoid a “horror season”.

“There are eleven of us are on the pitch. Eleven of us have to get it done. We need to perform, not look for excuses elsewhere. There are eleven players on the pitch who have enough quality to stand up and get the win in Bochum,” said Schlotterbeck in a post-match interview.

“Bochum go man-for-man. That means it’s about doing the basics on the pitch. Taking on duels, going into duels, winning duels. That has to change as quickly as possible. And if we can’t do that, then we deserve to be where we are. We have to get it right quickly, otherwise it will be a horror season.

“When you know what to expect in Bochum, then you have to take on this kind of game. We didn’t manage to do that. In the first ten minutes, we didn’t even get out of our own half. We are fighting through a maelstrom right now.”