“False sense of security”: Ricken warns BVB against complacency | OneFootball

After the recent defeats, concern is growing at BVB over a weak finish to the season. Lars Ricken is demanding clear reactions and is calling on the team to step up in the final stretch.

Alarm bells are ringing at Borussia Dortmund despite their comfortable position in the table. After the 1-2 defeat away at TSG Hoffenheim and the previous 0-1 loss against Bayer Leverkusen, the club’s leadership sees a worrying trend in the closing stages of the season – and is responding with clear messages.

Sporting managing director Lars Ricken made it clear that no one at BVB should feel falsely secure. “We’re not fooling ourselves into a sense of security!” the 49-year-old stressed after the match. Although qualification for the Champions League now seems little more than a formality given their sizeable lead, the club is pursuing a more ambitious internal goal: “We want to finish second at the end of the season.”

The performance in Hoffenheim, however, exposed familiar problems. Especially in the first half, the team lacked intensity, courage, and clarity going forward. Head coach Niko Kovac confirmed that impression and was openly critical of his team’s display. “In recent weeks, we’ve really only been playing for one half,” he said, calling for more consistency over the full 90 minutes.

Lars Ricken warns: BVB must stop a dangerous trend

Ricken sees this as a dangerous development that must be stopped urgently. “We have to show that we want to win these games. Not just a little bit, but with everything we’ve got,” he demanded emphatically. Especially with the loyal supporters, who continue to turn out in large numbers away from home, the team has a duty to give everything until the end of the season.

Photo: IMAGO

Indeed, the team has recently looked increasingly uninspired after their early exits from both the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League. The remaining league matches are therefore the last opportunity to end the campaign on a positive note. “We still have four games left, not only to get wins but also to come out of this season with a positive feeling,” Ricken made clear.

So for Dortmund, it is no longer just about the basic task of qualifying for the Champions League, but also about attitude, ambition, and delivering a convincing finish.

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