Borussia Dortmund’s Head Coach Edin Terzic defended himself against accusations of influencing the Bundesliga relegation battle. Following a clear 0:3 defeat against FSV Mainz 05, Terzic expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s position in the league standings. He emphasized that the disappointment of other clubs‘ situations should not be attributed to Dortmund’s performance on the field. Despite understanding the disappointment of fans, Terzic stated that the team’s focus is on their own disappointing league position.
The recent victory of Mainz has significantly worsened the relegation prospects for 1. FC Köln and Union Berlin. Köln, with 27 points, now has a slim chance to surpass Union Berlin’s 30 points in the final matchday. On the other hand, Union Berlin can only avoid the relegation play-off if other teams falter on the last matchday. Terzic made significant changes to the lineup, with only one player, Nico Schlotterbeck, starting in both the recent match and the previous win against FC Augsburg.
Despite the defeat, Terzic emphasized the team’s high expectations for their performance. He defended the team selection, noting that a similar lineup secured a victory the previous week. As Dortmund secures fifth place in the Bundesliga, the focus now shifts to the upcoming Champions League final against Real Madrid on June 1st. However, Terzic remained focused on addressing the team’s inconsistency in performance, expressing frustration at the team’s inability to maintain a high level of play consistently throughout the season.