Edin Terzic on preparing for the Gladbach game: “We had a very intensive session yesterday. Today it will be a little more relaxed. We also defended the zero against Wolfsburg. That will also be the case on Saturday."
Terzic: "We remember the first leg, back then we were constantly chasing a deficit.”
Terzic on the discrepancy between home and away appearances: “We don’t go through with it away from home and had to settle for a draw several times. Luckily we have a home game on Saturday.”
Terzic about Jamie Bynoe-Gittens: “Jamie is the only player who will definitely fail. He fell on his shoulder during training last week and was operated on yesterday. He has walked this path before and will be missed in the coming weeks and months.”
Terzic on the starting position: “There is a lot at stake for us. We have to prepare optimally to win the game.”
Terzic on the competition: “We had 26 players on the pitch yesterday. Some players won't be in the squad on Saturday either, which also leads to frustration. All players subordinate themselves to the great goal."
Terzic: "We are happy that it is more exciting than it has been for a long time. The quality of the training is very satisfactory.”
Terzic about Nico Schlotterbeck: “Nico is always a candidate for the starting eleven if he is healthy. And he's healthy. Mats Hummels and Niklas Süle have to prove in the next two days that they want to stay in the starting XI. Both played really well against Wolfsburg.”
Terzic on the Bayern game on Saturday afternoon: “We have our normal routine. Of course there will be one or the other push message, you can't hide that. But that won't affect us, we won't do anything crazy."
Terzic on Matthias Sammer’s Bellingham statements: “I did not hear the statement myself. I appreciate Matthias very much, we often exchange ideas - but not on this topic so far. Maybe we'll do it in the coming days."
Terzic: "But I don't think there is anyone who knows the team better than I do. I'm very happy how Jude presents himself here every day. He played very grown-up and experienced against Wolfsburg. And we're still talking about a 19-year-old player here."
Terzic on the title fight: “This is another topic that I cannot influence. We have to win our games. It doesn't matter to me whether Schalke, Leipzig or Cologne support us."
Terzic on Felix Passlack: “He is one of my big favorites, we've known each other for a long time. I've had to disappoint him a lot lately. Against Wolfsburg we wanted to give him this little thank you in return. We know what this club means to him. And he means a lot to us too.”
Terzic on #BMG: “A strong football team. They always want to solve it in a playful way and have a lot of speed on the wings. They try again and again to see the opponent apart in the center and rely on counterattacks. We've a lot of respect but are in very good shape at home."
Terzic on Karim Adeyemi: “We gave it a lot of thought during the World Cup break. Karim and Donyell Malen haven't scored a single goal in their first 16 games. I think that Sebastien Haller is also a key factor."
Terzic: "He makes sure the guys around him get better. We also adjusted the pressing height.”
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Svensson on whether he is a 'machine' and his good endurance level: "I don’t know (laughs). I always try to work hard and give my best - in training, in matches, in everything I do. Maybe that’s why he said that. When we played together, we complemented each other perfectly. He was outstanding on the ball and dictated the game, while I helped him by covering a lot of ground and winning back possession. That allowed both of us to focus on our strengths."
Svensson: "That’s just part of my personality. I have a naturally good endurance level. I don’t specifically train for it - there’s no time for extra workouts with all the games and training sessions. Every now and then, I also need to rest (laughs)."
Svensson on choosing Dortmund in spite of the sporting situation: "It’s true that other clubs were interested. But once Borussia Dortmund became a concrete option, I only wanted to come here. It’s a huge club - one of the biggest in Germany. When I was given the opportunity to play here, I wanted to take it."
Svensson: "A club like Borussia Dortmund always has the ability to bounce back. Almost every team goes through a season where they don’t perform as well as they’d like. But I know we’ll recover, and hopefully, the win against Union Berlin was the first step. As I said, BVB is such a big and strong club that it didn’t affect my decision at all."
Svensson on whether he had contact with Sahin and his transfer: "No, my first contact was with Niko Kovač."
Svensson: "Those were special days for me. I was just waiting for the opportunity to move, and once it came, I had to act fast. We were in a training camp with Nordsjælland in Marbella, so I had basically nothing with me except my football boots. I flew back from Spain, packed the essentials, and the next day, I was on my way to Dortmund. It was an intense few days, but now I’ve settled in and feel great."
🧵 Pre-match press conference Niko Kovač for the game against Union.
Kovač on Lille: "I know them well from the French league. They have very good players and a great coach. That will certainly be a tough challenge. We must not think these will be easy games."
Kovač on squad availability: "Nothing has changed. Only Felix Nmecha is out."
Kovač on new signing Carney Chukwuemeka: "He still needs some time to settle in here. After his knee problems, he has now been involved, but before that, he was absent. We need him to be fully fit."
🧵 Pre-match press conference for the game against Bayer Leverkusen with Nuri Sahin.
Sahin on the squad: "Waldemar Anton and Almugera Kabar are ill, Pascal Groß is suspended, and Niklas Süle is out."
Sahin on Donyell Malen: "Donny will be part of the squad on Friday, and he’s a candidate for the starting lineup. I see him very focused; anything else wouldn’t make sense to me."
Sahin on the 3-1 win in Wolfsburg: "That win made Christmas a bit more bearable for the club. It showed how good we are, but also highlighted where we need to improve in the second half."
🧵 Pre-match press conference with Nuri Sahin for the game against Wolfsburg.
Sahin on the squad: "Julian Brandt and Waldemar Anton are back, Yan Couto has trained. With Julian Ryerson, we have to wait and see how he reacts to the workload."
Sahin on the Hoffenheim game and the mentality debate: "There are winners and others who are developing in that direction. We’re here to ensure success and not be in eighth place. That’s what we’re trying to model here. And I particularly expect that from my young players."
Sahin on his first six months as BVB coach: "The club is big; we have to be successful. This role is always a privilege. The sporting situation won’t change that. There hasn’t been a single day where I thought it was too much for me. I know that after a 1-1 against Hoffenheim, justified criticism will arise."
🧵 A member asked why Mats Hummels' contract was not extended.
Lars Ricken: "Mats has etched his name into the history books of BVB. He is now turning 36. In the end, we had to ask ourselves if we should entrust that responsibility to other, younger players. We are very well-positioned in central defense. I believe we parted ways on good terms."
Ricken: "Our clear mission is for players from the youth academy to play for us, at Borussia Dortmund. That’s why we brought in Thomas Broich and Mathias Schiele."
Ricken on Sahin: "We trust our team, and we trust our coach. Nuri is a top coach who knows how to navigate challenging situations and come out even stronger afterward. Nuri Sahin has given five players from our youth academy their professional debut this season. We are on the right path, and it will get even better."
Ricken: "We are ranked seventh in the Champions League, which is really good. But the setbacks away from home hurt a lot. We will have to find solutions for that. None of you came to Borussia Dortmund to have us sitting in 16th place in the away table."
Reus on life in LA: "Here, you get more of a sense that people are interested in the positive things. They see you, and you’re wearing a cool shirt, and they say, “Hey, cool shirt!” Of course, it’s a bit of that superficial American vibe, you could say, but they’re more likely to strike up a conversation with you. I love my country, I love Germany. I wouldn’t have lived there for so long otherwise. I’m really grateful that the country offers us so many opportunities. But you start to feel more and more like everything there is so negative. Like everyone is just living their own life, bottling it all up, getting sucked into a kind of whirlpool, and they forget the positivity of life itself. And I just find that sad. And I think that’s the biggest difference here."
Reus: "Gorgeous weather, clear blue skies. It’s definitely a great way to start the day. Beautiful sunshine, wonderful day. Absolutely, it’s definitely a stark contrast to Germany. You have to say that for sure. Mainly because of the weather. You wake up and start your day with a different energy. So, yeah, the move here was definitely the right decision."
Reus on his move: "Yesterday, when we were at the game, I was talking with my wife, and she asked if I felt fully settled in and if I’d become American yet. But it still feels a little surreal, I have to admit. It was a big step for us. Moving away from Germany, where we lived our whole lives, to a different country, with a different culture and different people. But I have to say, I’ve been here a bit longer now, and my wife and kids only arrived about 7 or 8 days ago, but I already feel very comfortable, I have to say. And I wouldn’t want to miss it at all anymore."
Reus on becoming Americanized: "Not quite yet. That will take some more time. I think it’s a bit challenging. You have to connect with the people here and get closer to them. For example, yesterday we went to our oldest child’s kindergarten festival, which had an Oktoberfest theme. And that’s something that’s really emphasized here, the openness of the people. They approach you and don’t ask, “Who’s that guy?” Like it can be in Germany. Instead, they just come up to you and ask, “Where are you from?” “Why are you here? Where do you live?” And you quickly get into conversations with them. It’s definitely very interesting."