Michael Köllner takes the 0: 3 in the DFB Cup against Dortmund sporty. The 1860 coach speaks of a "class difference" for which "one should not be ashamed". The focus is on the "core business", which initially has to be continued without two top performers.
Munich (dpa / lby) - Michael Köllner did not want to know anything about a possible crack that the Dortmund football lesson in the DFB Cup could trigger in his players. Much more painful than the 0: 3 (0: 3) in the first round of the DFB Cup for the coach and his team are the injury-related absences of third division top scorer Marcel Bär and defender Semi Belkahia in the coming games.
"If a third division team loses against a Bundesliga team that is traveling in Europe, you don't have to be ashamed," said the 52-year-old Köllner, explaining his attitude after the unequal showdown with Borussia, which on Friday evening was very dominant and mature with its pace and playfulness had occurred.
The 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Grünwalder Stadion experienced "a class difference from the first minute" in the constant rain, as Köllner said. And yet the "Lion" supporters celebrated their team after the end of the game. "It's great cinema," enthused Köllner. The fans are supposed to be a trump card in the promotion mission in the league.
After the beautiful cup evenings of the previous season, this time the first round was not only the last, but also very sobering. After 35 minutes and three goals from Donyell Malen, Jude Bellingham and Karim Adeyemi, the end result was already set. "Looking back, that wasn't a good day for us," groaned Köllner: "It started with Semi Belkahia's injury while he was sweating. That then continued with the early goal. So there were a lot of things we planned to do , passé. And then Marcel Bär gets injured."
The top scorer limped out of the stadium on crutches. And on Saturday the bitter diagnosis followed: Bär needs an operation. The attacker, which is so important, will be “not available for a long time”, announced 1860. The injury made Köllner think about it immediately after the end of the cup. "The only thing that really hurts are the two injuries. That was a big blow," he said.
Defender Belkahia (23) suffered "a structural injury to his thigh during light training on Friday morning, which precludes him from playing in the upcoming games".
The "lion" look must still be directed to the front after the cup. "Now we have to do our homework in the league again," said goalkeeper Marco Hiller. Captain Stefan Lex also referred to the "core business" promotion fight, for the time being without a bear. Next opponent of the sixties is promoted VfB Oldenburg.
