Julian Brandt didn’t even look for excuses. “This is a complete slap in the mouth for me,” said the Borussia Dortmund international after an afternoon to forget, after a bitter 4-1 defeat at direct Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig. Immediately before the semi-final first leg in the Champions League against Paris St. Germain, BVB was mercilessly shown its limitations.
How can we turn around in the shortest possible time to star Kylian Mbappé and Co., who will already be opponents in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN)? “We haven’t all been professionals since this year. I already know how to deal with it, how to focus on a new game. It’s also a different situation. But it will definitely keep me busy for the weekend,” said Brandt.
In the league, fourth place is probably gone, five points behind RB Leipzig, but due to the UEFA ranking, which is advantageous for Germany, fifth place will probably be enough for the premier class. “The fact that things are going the way they are this year and that you still have the chance to qualify for the Champions League in another way, you can pray three times in the evening and say: Thank God,” admitted Brandt.
At the same time, the 27-year-old indicated that he had observed a change in the BVB environment. “I have had the feeling since Leverkusen (1-1 last week/ed.) that the focus has also changed a bit in the Dortmund environment. I don’t think many fans liked it here today, but I think the focus was now also on Paris,” said Brandt. In the Champions League, things are actually easier for BVB – for example in the great 4:2 in the quarter-final first leg against Atlético Madrid.
Brandt wants to draw new strength from the special moment, the prospect of the final at Wembley Stadium, after the blow to his neck. “You play at home, play against Paris. I have the feeling that the fans are always particularly hot against Paris anyway. Another situation awaits us, which will be heated and where a lot is at stake. “I’m looking forward to it, no matter how difficult it is for me to say right now,” says Brandt, “but that won’t be for a few days.”