Before hosting Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the DFB Pokal the Signal Iduna Park crowd was in a good mood. The Black and Yellows have beaten Spanish side Villareal 4-0 in the Champions League and managed to get a 2-1 win at the Bay Arena against the opposition they're about to face in the Cup on Saturday.
Both results were a welcome sight after the consecutive disappointing draws against Hamburg and Stuttgart which were preceded by a 4-1 thumping by Manchester City.
“In games like this, it always comes down to moments, who takes them and who doesn’t. That’s just how it is in a knock-out game. I think we had better phases today, a bit more control than on Saturday. It’s a real shame,” stated Felix Nmecha speaking in the mixed zone after the 1-0 loss to Leverkusen.
Dortmund and Niko Kovac didn't help themselves at all
Despite what transpired on the pitch, this was a game Borussia Dortmund should have won. This was necessary to keep the hope of winning a trophy at the end of the season going, and also keep a good momentum that can translate to the pitch.
There have been negative talks in Dortmund whenever the team fails to achieve a good result. Questions have been raised about the team’s playing style, and Niko Kovac has often been blamed for the team’s lack of attractive attacking football when points are dropped.
BVB have only lost one game in the Champions League and only tasted defeat against runaway leaders Bayern in the league but there were many instances in which the team failed to be decisive going forward. Oftentimes, Kovac’s side has been accused of taking the foot off the gas after a lead and allowing the opposition to come back into the game.
The Pokal loss is a significant setback for both the team and the coach. The team now needs to bounce back in the home game against Hoffenheim on Sunday.