Before BVB's successful comeback: Schlotterbeck skipped this ritual | OneFootball

His comeback in the 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg even took place from the start. The German national player had been sidelined since April, largely withdrawing from the public eye during this time, with few exceptions, and immediately impressed upon his return to his old role at BVB. Perhaps also because this time he approached things a bit differently than usual for Schlotterbeck.

Trainer Niko Kovac found Schlotterbeck's performance so convincing that he immediately gave him a starting lineup guarantee for tomorrow's match against FSV Mainz 05. But what did Schlotterbeck, who transferred from SC Freiburg to BVB in 2022, actually do differently before the Wolfsburg game?

The Westfälische Anzeiger took a close look even before kickoff at Signal Iduna Park last weekend. Typically, Nico Schlotterbeck does not step onto the pitch of the respective stadiums before warming up. On Sunday against VfL Wolfsburg, this was different, as he was seen on the pitch of the BVB home ground some time before the warmup with the team. For this special appearance, he wanted to get an early feel of the pitch and reacquaint himself with the surroundings.

Photo: Getty Images

Will Schlotterbeck also perform well in Mainz for BVB?

Apparently, the decision to break from his usual routine was a good one. Full of self-confidence, which one would not expect from a player who had been without match practice for so long, he helped the BVB defense achieve even greater stability than it has shown in most cases this season.

The subsequent extra praise from his teammates likely pleased Nico Schlotterbeck as much as the special applause he received from the South Stand after the victory, which he acknowledged with a mix of gratitude and self-affirmation by tapping his chest. Now, the BVB community looks forward to Mainz with anticipation, hoping for another strong performance from the recently returned player. Especially since Mainz 05 has developed into something of a bogey team for Borussia Dortmund in recent years, where another clean sheet from Dortmund's perspective would be highly desirable.

Given his strong performance in the comeback, it is hardly surprising that discussions about an early contract extension are expected to take place soon. For Nico Schlotterbeck himself, BVB would be "of course the first point of contact", as he recently made clear publicly.

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