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Before the Revier derby he had spoken "very extensively" and "very intensively" with his coach: Mats Hummels scored
Photo:
Leon Kuegeler / dpa
A pattern can be seen.
A game after which Borussia Dortmund and, above all, coach Lucien Favre is criticized, is followed by one with which the waves quickly smooth out again.
Since the Swiss started working for BVB in the summer of 2018, the team has only lost two games in a row in the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB Cup.
Last season, this was the case in February.
The out of the cup at Werder Bremen was followed by a 3: 4 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
It was a spectacular football game in which Favre had made a back four in defense for the first time in months.
After that he renounced this formation, which he preferred in pure teaching.
However, the results spoke in favor of three central defenders even after the Leverkusen evening, and the players and supervisors are also said to have suggested this option.
more on the subject
Schalke in the Revierderby: No chance like amateurs in the DFB-Pokal by Henrik Bahlmann
BVB defeat in Rome: Too easy Marcus Bark reports from Rome
Before the Revier derby on Saturday there was a change of heart.
After the 3-0 win against FC Schalke 04, Mats Hummels reported that he had spoken "in great detail" and "very intensely" with Favre about the basic formation beforehand.
After the performance in the Champions League at Lazio Rome, which was also described as "desolate" from within, the weakness of Lukas Piszczek's form, the injury to Dan-Axel Zagadou and ultimately the positive corona test at Emre Can, the decision should have been easy.
Hummels gave another reason: "It was clear that we needed an offensive player more on the pitch against such a massive cover."
The personnel changes, such as Julian Brandt and Mahmoud Dahoudin in the starting XI, were also convincing, as was the sticking to Thomas Meunier, who was the weakest among the weak in Rome.
The fact that BVB dominated against Schalke throughout the game was also due to the majority situations in half of the opponent, which arose thanks to the full-backs pushed far forward and a patient, but nevertheless fast-paced passing game.
The mountain Favre stands in front of
Favre left it open whether the change of the basic formation was a decision for the coming weeks, in which it will continue in tight rigors in the Champions League and Bundesliga.
He wants to be flexible.
In view of the opponents, he will find good arguments for this, because in the league the game at Arminia Bielefeld is followed by the game against FC Bayern.
The master from Munich is the mountain that Favre stands in front of.
Only when he conquers it and walks easily over hills in Cologne and Stuttgart will the critics fall silent.
"That doesn't interest me, not at all," said the coach on Saturday when asked how he had perceived the renewed scolding after the game at Lazio.
The football teacher, who is almost 63 years old, has seen a slight change in the past few days.
While still in Rome, he promised that BVB would survive the group stage of the Champions League, in which Zenit St. Petersburg and Club Bruges are the other opponents.
Before the derby, he promised a win.
He reduced the usual warnings that it would be "very, very difficult" to a minimum.
Stable on the goalkeeper question
When asked about his goalkeepers, Favre avoided a commitment to a regular cast even after the game against Schalke, in which Roman Bürki was back in goal without having to put on work clothes.
Both sports director Michael Zorc and his designated successor Sebastian Kehl had publicly mentioned that Bürki was number one and that they saw no reason for a change.
Favre reacted obliquely on ZDF when he approached the reporter Claudia Neumann: "I don't like the question."
In other interviews he let it be known that in future he could also imagine being flexible when choosing a goalkeeper.
Mats Hummels, who was in a good mood after his first goal in the 19th derby against Schalke, said: "It is legitimate that Lucien does not want to reveal so much. If you want entertainment, you have to tune in to Pro Sieben from 11:15 pm."
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