"Not sure if that helps": BVB stars criticise fans for whistling | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund wins 3-0 against Werder Bremen, but is still booed at halftime. The reactions of the stars and coach Niko Kovac show just how big the gap between expectations and performance currently is.

A 3-0 victory to close out the first half of the season, second place in the table, and 36 points – in sporting terms, Borussia Dortmund is in its best position in years. And yet, in the home game against Werder Bremen, it wasn’t just the goals that defined the match, but above all the loud boos at halftime. Despite leading 1-0, many fans responded to a performance they perceived as lacking ideas and control. The tension between results and style of play is occupying the club more than ever.

Marcel Sabitzer, who later made it 2-0, showed understanding for the frustration, but questioned the timing of the criticism: “We were 1-0 up at halftime, so I don’t know if that’s helpful,” said the Austrian after the final whistle. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel also had clear words about the atmosphere: “When you’re a player on the pitch, it’s never nice when there are boos. When you’re in the lead, even less so.”

Coach Niko Kovac defended the fans after the game – but also backed the analysis: “The boos that could be heard were absolutely justified. I wasn’t satisfied either, and I told the team that.”

BVB’s Season in Tension: Strong Results, Controversial Style of Play

For the coach, the discussion is symptomatic of Dortmund’s season: the results are right, but the performances aren’t always. While BVB is defensively solid and has suffered only one Bundesliga defeat, the desire for more dominance and creativity remains.

After the break, the team delivered the right sporting response. Dortmund increased the pressure, played more purposefully, and pulled away with goals from Sabitzer and others. The 3-0 win underlined the consistency with which the Black and Yellows have come through the first half of the season – nine clean sheets, only 15 goals conceded, the second-best record in years.

Kovac still urges differentiation: results are the foundation, performance is the icing on the cake. Or as he puts it: “We talk about the A or B grade, but we are footballers. It’s primarily about the A grade, the B grade comes on top.” So BVB has delivered – and at the same time set new standards for itself. The boos at halftime were not a sign of crisis, but of ambition. And that is exactly what Dortmund will have to be measured by in the second half of the season.

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