"Very tough": Groß explains his Dortmund exit | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund and Pascal Groß parted ways faster than planned. Now the veteran openly explains what led to his departure.

After just a year and a half at Borussia Dortmund, Pascal Groß unexpectedly said goodbye in the winter and returned to Brighton & Hove Albion. The 34-year-old has now spoken openly about the reasons for his quick move – and made no secret of how stressful the last few months were for him.

“Of course, for a passionate footballer like me, it's never easy when you play less than you imagine. That was very difficult in the past months,” Groß explained in an interview with kicker. Although he "never lost the passion for football," his role at BVB increasingly diminished this season. The experienced midfielder often only came on as a substitute.

Groß made it clear that his chances of participating in the World Cup were a decisive factor. “When I wasn't getting much playtime in Dortmund, I wanted to go somewhere where I could have more influence and play more often, so I could recommend myself for the World Cup,” said the 16-time national player.

World Cup Dream as a Factor: Why Groß Left BVB

In this context, he was also in contact with national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “The exact details remain between us, but fundamentally he made it clear to everyone that playing time is important,” Groß said. Brighton wasn't the only option, “but here I can get back on my feet the quickest.”

The contact with Brighton never broke off after his departure in 2024. He remained in regular contact, especially with coach Fabian Hürzeler. “We talked, and by the end of the year, the clubs had reached an agreement. It was important to me to play in January and not to transfer at the end of January and lose a month,” he explained.

Despite the challenging sporting phase, Groß looks back on his time at BVB without bitterness. He met “many great colleagues” and thoroughly enjoyed the Champions League nights in Dortmund. There is also no bad blood with coach Niko Kovac. “A coach has to make his decisions, but I, as a player, have to make mine too. Personally, everything is okay. I'm looking forward now.”

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