BVB star Schlotterbeck opens up on his ordeal: “Toughest time” | OneFootball

After a long spell of suffering, Nico Schlotterbeck is back on the pitch. The BVB star speaks about difficult months and looks ahead to the upcoming challenges with optimism.

Nico Schlotterbeck is back on the pitch. After another lengthy injury layoff, the Borussia Dortmund centre-back made his comeback in the 3-0 win over Paderborn. The 26-year-old has been through months that, despite previous serious injuries, weighed on him particularly heavily.

“This was the toughest time of my football career so far! I had a much more serious injury last year, but this one really hurt,” Schlotterbeck said on BVB TV. Back in April 2025, a torn meniscus in his left knee had already sidelined him for a longer period.

As a result, the defender not only missed the final stretch of the season, but also the Club World Cup. After his return, the next setback followed at the World Cup in June: in the group match against Ivory Coast (2-1), Schlotterbeck suffered a medial ligament injury to his left ankle. His tournament was over.

BVB star Schlotterbeck celebrates comeback after 84 days

84 days later, he was surprisingly back in Dortmund’s starting line-up against Paderborn. The return in front of the fans meant a lot to him. “With football, we are chasing a certain kind of addiction, and I missed playing in front of the fans again, in a big stadium.”

Photo: IMAGO

After his enforced break, Schlotterbeck is now looking ahead to the upcoming tasks with confidence. Above all, the quality of the reshaped BVB squad gives him reason for optimism. “The new signings who came in are all at a top level.” Centre-back Joane Gadou in particular left a strong impression on him. Speaking about his team-mate, Schlotterbeck said: “That is absolute top class!”

A fresh start also awaits the Dortmund player in the national team. New Germany head coach Jürgen Klopp has called Schlotterbeck up to the DFB team. The defender has high hopes for the change in management: “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a new era he is ushering in, and I hope it will be a successful one!” After months full of setbacks, Schlotterbeck can now once again focus on his sporting duties with both club and country.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.