BVB skipper Can promises better after draw with Bochum
Dortmund captain Emré Can and VfL Bochum sporting director Marc Lettau offered up their thoughts on the respective performances of their teams following Saturday's 1-1 Revierderby draw.
Once certainly expected a different result in the only Revierderby to grace the German top flight this year. Two teams at opposite ends of the table last year nevertheless ended up splitting the difference in a 1-1 draw on the Castroper Straße. Dortmund - competing for the title on the final day of last season - and Bochum - who only avoided relegation on the last matchday - contributed a goal apiece.
Anthony Losilla, who famously scolded his team for not being fit for the top flight after last week's loss at Stuttgart, was visibly pleased. VfL front-office executive Marc Lettau referenced Losilla's challenge specifically in his own post-match interview. The sporting boss explained that the club had sat down and analyzed last week's loss, just as the French veteran had called for.
"It wasn't all that difficult as we all agreed on what the problem was," Lettau told the Sky mics afterwards, "We talked about crucial points. Thomas Letsch and the team prepared well and brought what we discussed during the week onto the pitch in a super way. Our game against the ball improved. We went bravely into the duels, even in the opponent's half. That enabled us to win balls and create chances."
Emré Can, on the other hand, was left to explain not only another disappointing performance for the team, but also his second consecutive subpar match in three competitive fixtures since inheriting the captain's armband from Marco Reus. Can bluntly admitted that he hadn't played well in his post-match interview last week and said that he full understood BVB trainer Edin Terzic's decision to take him off the pitch early.
"That didn't meet our standards," Can remarked in his post-match interview this time, "There's a lot missing. We knew how they wanted to play football, but succumbed to their game anyway. We played two many long balls and didn't have enough solutions. We will work on that."