adminBERLIN. — Borussia Dortmund will be seeking to translate Champions League soccer form into the German Bundesliga when they take on SV Hamburg today after a run of three league games which have produced just a point.Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 win at Anderlecht on Wednesday which followed up their impressive 2-0 defeat of Arsenal.
But in between those two game, Dortmund have stuttered domestically, beaten 2-0 at Mainz, held 2-2 at home by VfB Stuttgart and beaten 2-1 at local rivals Schalke, slipping to 12th in the table — now seven points behind leaders and champions Bayern Munich.
Midfielder Sebastian Kehl said the team “showed our true colours” against Anderlecht after the defeat against Schalke.
“Now we have to back this victory up with three points in the Bundesliga. A 3-0 win is a good result because we know now that we still have it in us to win games. But now our focus should be on the game against Hamburg on Saturday.”
Coach Juergen Klopp has maintained a calm front on his side’s domestic form dip, saying after the defeat to Schalke:
“The team have quality, mental strength and a good character. We’ll bounce back.”
Hamburg, who sit bottom of the table with just two points — and one goal scored — from their first six games, could provide the opportunity for Klopp’s side to get back to winning ways.
The promotion of Under-23 coach Joe Zinnbauer to take over at Hamburg following the sacking of Mirko Slomka has so far not paid off for the northern German club, with a home goalless draw against Bayern Munich followed by two defeats.
Zinnbauer, however, saw enough in the last-minute home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend to feel confident it is only a matter of time before results come.
“If the team keep this up, they’ll get their reward. And so will the fans, who were fantastic today,” Zinnbauer said after the last-minute home loss to Frankfurt.
Zinnbauer may be able to call again on captain Rafael van der Vaart after the Dutch midfielder returned to full training on Wednesday. Club boss Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who welcomed new sports director Peter Knaebel to the club Wednesday, says the coach will need time.
“I can only repeat myself when I say that Joe is doing a very good job and is very emotionally involved. You can see that something is stirring,” he said. — AFP.
Online Reporter