Champions League Borussia Dortmund
“We didn’t have a great season in 1997 either”
As of: 12:23 p.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes
“We didn’t have a great season in 1997 either” – BVB legend draws parallels to the last triumph
He won the Champions League with Dortmund in 1997, and now BVB has a good chance of reaching the final again. Stephane Chapuisat not only believes his former club will advance against Paris, but also sees parallels to the triumphant premier class season in 1997.
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In the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund was just demonstrated by RB Leipzig. In the Champions League, however, the team shows very strong performances. Looking back is also encouraging before the semi-finals against the star ensemble from Paris St. Germain.
Lars Ricken has two Champions League moments in his CV. Above all, there is of course his goal in the 3-1 win in the 1997 Munich final against Juventus Turin – which secured BVB the greatest triumph in the club’s history to date. To this day, the now 47-year-old said a few months ago, he still gets fan mail because of it. In many cases there is also a jersey that he is supposed to sign. With the note that it is his original jersey from that final. “If that were true, I would have worn around 20 jerseys,” said Ricken.
However, the director of Dortmund’s youth performance center, who will be officially promoted to the new sports director from May 1st, appeared again around a Champions League final.
May 28, 1997: Lars Ricken scores the goal to make it 3-1 against Turin
Quelle: picture alliance/SvenSimon/SVEN SIMON
In 2013, when BVB lost 2-1 to Bayern at Wembley Stadium in London, he appeared in the supporting program. The German-German final encouraged UEFA to create a kind of medieval spectacle. Two acting troupes marched in in the Bayern and BVB colors – with axes, shields and bows and arrows. Then the old stars Paul Breitner and Ricken appeared in historical uniforms and presented the Henkel pot.
Significant doubts about competitiveness
Ricken has to smile when he is reminded of this. What has happened more often in the last few days – because BVB wants to go back to Wembley, where the final will be played again on June 1st. If it succeeds, it would be another milestone in history and a fantastic entrée for the new top black and yellow decision-maker in football. His teammate from back then believes in the triumph and sees parallels to the victory 27 years ago. “We didn’t have a great season in 1997 either,” says then attacker Stephane Chapuisat. At that time, BVB ended up third and had to give way to champions Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
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Another international success would of course be a tailwind for Borussia. Before the first leg against FC Paris St. Germain on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN), coach Edin Terzic’s team once again reminded that, despite all the anticipation for the semi-final, they have two faces: an international one, where they confidently prevailed in a difficult preliminary group (PSG, AC Milan, Newcastle United) and then against PSV Eindhoven and Atlético Madrid – and a national one that disappoints the fans with great regularity. Because in the Bundesliga, Dortmund is clearly lagging behind its demands.
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In the eight games against the four top teams Leverkusen, Bayern, Stuttgart and Leipzig there was only one win (2-0 in Munich) and five defeats. Last weekend it was that time again: The 4-1 defeat in Leipzig raised considerable doubts about the team’s competitiveness.
New full-backs are needed
That “already dampened the mood a lot,” said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. It’s only a limited consolation that fifth place will probably be enough to move into the premier class next season. The fact is: Such inferiority in terms of speed, wit and determination against a competitor for European placements raises doubts. BVB was shown off at times and was overwhelmed by Leipzig’s speed.
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These do not seem to be ideal conditions for the test of strength with the equally fast Parisian offensive forces Bradley Barcola, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembelé. “We have to quickly turn our attention to Wednesday in order to turn fifth place into a Champions League place for us. We have this in our own hands,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl. With good results against Paris, BVB could help themselves to qualify via a detour. In fact, it also depends on which shelf Ricken, Kehl and the new technical director Sven Mislintat can reach into to strengthen the team.
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One thing is certain: the team needs additional quality, especially in the full-back positions and in the central defensive midfield. Kehl had already warned of the latter last summer. The opening of the game in particular is still a problematic issue, even though a lot has improved since the addition of the two assistant coaches Nuri Sahin and Sven Bender in January.
There is also a quality gap. If, as in Leipzig, regulars like left-back Ian Maatsen (on loan from Chelsea FC) (yellow suspension and muscular problems), midfielders Marcel Sabitzer (cold) and striker Donyell Malen (thigh problems) are out, things will be tight. Dortmund hopes all the more to be able to rely on the trio again on Wednesday. Above all, they hope to see the team’s Champions League face again. “We will manage it, we have shown that often enough,” said Kehl.