With the pain of being eliminated from the Champions League still lingering, Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kerber hopes Bayern Munich’s high-stakes visit on Saturday can provide a spark to save his side’s season.
After winning 2-0 in the first leg, runners-up in the 2024 UEFA Champions League looked locked in the last 16, but Dortmund suffered a shock defeat in Bergamo in midweek and crashed out of Europe with a 4-1 defeat.
advertise
Speaking to AFP and other media hours after returning from Italy on Thursday, Kerber suggested the Bayern game could be the tonic that injured Dortmund needs.
“Obviously, it’s a tough situation. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but you have to keep moving forward and focus on the next game,” Kerber said.
“It’s very important for us as professionals to focus on what we can do. Training today, training tomorrow and injecting good energy into the team to have a good game on Saturday.”
Like Bayern, Dortmund have lost just once in the Bundesliga this season, but they are eight points behind league leader Vincent Kompany.
advertise
A victory for Dortmund wouldn’t suddenly make them title favorites, but it would move them closer to the title as the season enters its final stages – especially with Bayern still balancing European and DFB-Pokal commitments.
Some players might use a distraction to ease their nerves, but Kerber, 28, was ecstatic.
“I really like feeling a little bit of tension. It gets you going. In my experience, it makes you sharper,” he said.
“A lot of people try to fight it, push it away, but then you run into problems.
“I think you can get a lot out of it. When a little (feeling) comes, I always feel confident. Because I know I’m going to be sharper.”
advertise
-“The losing part of the game”-
Against Atalanta, Karim Adeyemi’s superb goal put Dortmund level with 15 minutes remaining, but Kerber’s misplaced pass in stoppage time spelled disaster.
The mistake resulted in Rami Bensebaini being awarded a late penalty after he hit Nikola Korstovich in the face with his studs while trying to clear a cross.
Kerber immediately apologized to his teammates for his mistake and called on his team to “put on a great performance at home against Bayern.”
Dortmund are regulars in Europe amid a difficult financial situation, but Kerber admits the club needs trophies.
advertise
“We have to win. If we win something again, everything will change very quickly.”
Kerber arrives a month after winning the DFB-Pokal for the last time in 2021 and it’s already painful enough to lift the trophy with Dortmund.
On the last day of the 2022-23 season, when Dortmund drew with lowly Mainz at home, the Swiss international was on the court, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga championship with a goal difference advantage.
A year later, Kerber watched as Dortmund dominated the opening 70 minutes of the Champions League final, only to be beaten by two late goals from Real Madrid, who won the title for a record 15th time.
advertise
Whatever happens on Saturday, Dortmund are heading back in the right direction under Niko Kovac.
The eight-time German champions are just three points shy of their highest score at this stage of the season.
As usual, Bayern were also in top form. With only three draws and one loss, Bayern has conceded the fewest points among the top five European leagues this season.
“If you look at Bayern this season, the way they perform and the way they play, it’s a fantastic team. They win every game with a lot of goals,” Kerber said.
“All we can do is focus on ourselves, try to improve as a team, try to get better and compete with them.
“We work hard every day to achieve this. Failure is certainly part of the game.”
dwi/MW
