Marco Reus: Borussia Dortmund deserved to lose against RB Leipzig

Marco Reus has admitted that Borussia Dortmund were second best for large parts of their game against RB Leipzig, adding that the defeat was a deserved one. 

Borussia Dortmund suffered their second defeat of the week on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 by RB Leipzig. Goals from Christopher Nkunku and Yussuf Poulsen helped Leipzig claim a vital win over the Black and Yellows. And Marco Reus accepted after the game that it was a deserved defeat for them.

"“It was a deserved defeat,” Reus told Sky after the game. “We knew beforehand that Leipzig were going to be even more aggressive than under their former coach. The second half was better, but overall it was too little. In the end, we ran out of energy after the last few weeks. We didn’t deserve to win because we won fewer duels, because we forced fewer scoring chances.”"

Reus also felt that Borussia Dortmund simply did not turn up in the first half and added that the back four formation suits the team better as it allows them to press high up the pitch with an extra man.

"“In the second half we switched to a back four, which suits us better as we’re more active than in a back five and we have an extra man to press with. The second half was better; we were more aggressive, equalised to make it 1-1 but then conceded a stupid goal for 2-1. It was too simple.”"

Borussia Dortmund’s injury situation prompted Marco Rose to start with a back three formation against RB Leipzig. But he reverted to a back four at half time, with Thorgan Hazard filling in at left-back for the second half.

Rose did not think that the formation change was the reason Borussia Dortmund lost to RB Leipzig on Saturday. He added that his side were missing the attacking movement and structure to cause RB Leipzig any problems in the first half. But they did a much better job of putting their opponents under pressure after the break.

"“It’s not a question of the system. We have also won points with a three-man backline. I don’t know if we’ve even lost once with a three-man backline, so there’s no need to discuss it.”“We lacked structure, precision and attacking movement. We did a good job of putting Leipzig under pressure in the second half and had a better foothold on the game.”"

Despite the defeat, Rose is looking at the big picture and feels that the international break will give them the chance to recharge their batteries.

"“I think the international break will do us a lot of good. I know that people are now going to talk about the second defeat in a row and ignore the progress we’ve made. But we’re looking at the big picture and just looking forward to getting some players back after the international break.”"

Borussia Dortmund go into the international break four points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race.