Wipe your mouth, move on: Borussia Dortmund fulfilled their cup duty against Ingolstadt on Tuesday evening without shine, but also without trembling. BVB coach Marco Rose spoke of a “mature performance” and hopes for the return of a trio against Cologne.
The mood was upbeat as BVB sporting director Michael Zorc fielded questions from journalists in the draughty area below the stands at Dortmund Stadium after the 2-0 win over FC Ingolstadt in the second round of the DFB Cup. “We have fulfilled our homework,” he summed up with satisfaction and was not bothered by the fact that the game was “not a spectacle”: “Perhaps that was not to be expected in view of ten absentees.” This time, not only was striker Erling Haaland, who had been injured for some time, missing, but also Donyell Malen (stomach bug) and keeper Gregor Kobel (precautionary measure).
Rose speaks of “mature performance “
Two goals (72nd, 81st) from substitute Thorgan Hazards – the second from a suspiciously offside position – were enough for the Bundesliga side to knock the second division bottom team out of the cup. Even if the goals came relatively late: There was no doubt beforehand that BVB would be successful in this task. The Ingolstadt attack was too harmless, and the Borussians came too close to scoring as the game wore on. Dortmund coach Marco Rose understandably spoke of a “mature performance” by his team, which was initially without captain Marco Reus, Manuel Akanji and Hazard for reasons of rest.
BVB’s next competitive match is scheduled for Saturday: In the league, 1. FC Köln will come to the Signal Iduna Park, which is sure to be much better filled – against Ingolstadt, only 25,000 spectators were present – and Rose can hope for a slight improvement in the personnel situation by then: Malen should have overcome his problems by then, and Kobel is also fit for action. In addition, youngster Youssoufa Moukoko’s compulsory break could come to an end: “We hope that he will play a role again against Cologne,” said Rose, who has also not completely given up hope for Mahmoud Dahoud. More likely, however, is a return of the central midfielder against Amsterdam next Wednesday.
Central defender Dan-Axel Zagadou, meanwhile, is expected to get his first match practice after his month-long injury layoff in the U 23’s game against Viktoria Berlin on Saturday.
