Criticism of new BVB signings? Ricken has his say | OneFootball

After heavy investments in the summer, BVB’s new signings are facing more criticism than expected. Sporting CEO Lars Ricken takes a clear stance and puts the situation into perspective.

Borussia Dortmund invested heavily over the summer, but the hoped-for immediate impact from the new signings has yet to materialize. Sporting CEO Lars Ricken meets the growing impatience around the club with understanding—and clear assessments of the team’s development.

A total of around 73 million euros was spent on the signings of Carney Chukwuemeka, Fabio Silva, and Jobe Bellingham. None of the three has yet established himself as a regular starter. Ricken openly admitted in an interview with kicker: “I can understand that some people would have liked to see more playing time for our new players.” At the same time, he urges patience, as the club deliberately opted for young players who “need the necessary time.”

Jobe Bellingham is the furthest along in this regard. The 20-year-old has had the most playing time among the new arrivals and has already started several times. Despite a recent sending off in Freiburg, Ricken draws a positive conclusion and explicitly praises the Englishman’s development: “I think he’s become more consistent and better with every minute, and in Freiburg, up until the red card, he even delivered one of his best performances for us.”

Ricken makes it clear: No winter departure planned for Fabio Silva

BVB’s boss also sees progress with Chukwuemeka and Silva, but points to the strong internal competition from established players like Julian Brandt, Pascal Groß, or Marcel Sabitzer. There had recently been speculation about a possible winter departure for Silva, but Ricken, just like sporting director Sebastian Kehl, clearly dismissed these rumors.

In sporting terms, Ricken sees BVB on track overall. Dortmund will spend the winter break in second place and, according to the CEO, has clear goals for the second half of the season. “Unlike in previous years, we need to qualify for the Champions League with confidence,” he emphasized. The 49-year-old is also hoping for more special nights in the Champions League.

Despite the bitter cup exit against Leverkusen, which Ricken says “really hurt,” optimism prevails at BVB. Coach Niko Kovac has stabilized the team and built up trust. And maybe there’s even more possible this season—as Ricken himself hints: “The good news is: it’s only December, not May yet.”

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