Matthäus hails Schlotterbeck, compares him to Bayern legend | OneFootball

Lothar Matthäus is thrilled about Nico Schlotterbeck’s comeback at BVB. The central defender is even compared by him to an icon of FC Bayern.

Borussia Dortmund has made a strong start to the new Bundesliga season. BVB has won four of their first five matches. Only the opening game against FC St. Pauli ended in a 3-3 draw. A particularly positive sign for the Black and Yellows is the return of central defender Nico Schlotterbeck after his meniscus injury. In the last two games against Wolfsburg and Mainz 05, the 25-year-old played the full distance and showed no limitations whatsoever.

Schlotterbeck is one of the most important players in Dortmund’s squad and already impressed last season as a consistent top performer. Lothar Matthäus praised the national player in his Sky column: “He is a mentality player that Dortmund will need in the future, and with whom they want to extend their contract.” Matthäus also added: “It doesn’t surprise me that he comes back and immediately performs.”

In addition to his performance on the pitch, Schlotterbeck also stands out for his clear statements regarding the championship. After the 2-0 win against Mainz, he cautiously explained: “We will now have discussions. I will sit down with Sebastian Kehl, make a plan, and then we’ll see what comes of it.”

Matthäus sees BVB as Bayern’s challenger

His current contract runs until 2027, and an extension with a significantly improved salary is a topic at BVB. Matthäus is overall impressed by the development at BVB under coach Niko Kovac: “They are now unbeaten in 13 games. That’s quite remarkable, what has developed there.” The record national player especially sees the defense as stable: “They have kept a clean sheet in the last four games – and it’s also very important that Nico Schlotterbeck has returned after a long injury break.”

Overall, Matthäus sees BVB as a serious competitor for Bayern Munich: “In the end, of course, it mainly depends on Bayern themselves who becomes German champion. If the Munich team keeps playing like this, it will be very difficult for Dortmund – even though they are performing just as well in their own way as the German record champions.”

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