Schlotterbeck injury is a ´complete disaster´ for Dortmund, says Sahin

Borussia Dortmund have added defender Nico Schlotterbeck to their ever-growing injury list after he turned his ankle during their 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The news of Schlotterbeck’s injury comes just a day after head coach Nuri Sahin said Niklas Sule would be a long-term absentee, while Waldemar Anton is also unavailable.

Sahin said Schlotterbeck’s absence would be a major blow after he was injured in the final move of the game while putting a header over in an attempt to equalise.

The 25-year-old was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and Sahin did not hold back when asked about the potential impact of his absence.

“It would be a complete disaster if he was also sidelined,” Sahin said. “I don’t have a diagnosis yet but obviously he is completely dejected.

“I saw the images and they are horrible. We will have a sleepless night tonight and then we will have to see how it develops tomorrow.”

2 – @ChampionsLeague braces for @FCBarcelona as a subtitute:

2008 – Lionel Messi (v Shakhtar Donetsk)
2012 – Cristian Tello (v Bayer Leverkusen)
2015 – Ivan Rakitic (v BATE Borisov)
2024 – FERRAN TORRES (v Borussia Dortmund)

Impact. pic.twitter.com/qsHubK6waH

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 11, 2024

Dortmund’s injury list has stretched to as many as 10 players at points this season and has taken its toll on their results.

The German side are currently sixth in the Bundesliga, 12 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

The defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday, meanwhile, saw them drop to ninth in the Champions League table – one place outside the automatic last-16 qualifying spots.

“I am fuming because we played well,” said Sahin. “We have to win these games. We deserved more in the second half.

“I do not want to hear that we played a good game. There is no room for mistakes and we have to learn that.

“We keep up with these top teams but in the end I want to sit here and say, ‘we won the game’. That is the development we need.”