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On Monday, Erling Haaland went on a personal journey.
The Norwegian top striker flew with his teammates from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester, where BVB will play the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Manchester City, the designated English champions, on Tuesday (9 p.m. / live DAZN).
It is the very big stage that has repeatedly inspired Haaland to achieve highly regarded top performances: the barely 20-year-old has scored ten goals in the current season alone - more than anyone else.
And he doesn't want to miss the premier class under any circumstances.
That is why his dazzling advisor Mino Raiola and father Alf-Inge flew in a private jet first to Barcelona the previous week, then on to Madrid.
Later it should also have gone to England.
They explored options for the future.
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Apparently also because it seemed uncertain whether BVB can offer him the premier class in the coming season.
She was "shot down": Photographers were already waiting at the airport in Barcelona on arrival.
Someone - maybe Barca president Joan Laporta, maybe Haaland's agent - took a keen interest in making this trip public.
BVB is experiencing negative dynamics
The Dortmund tried to downplay the process.
After all, on Saturday they played against Eintracht Frankfurt, the direct competitor in the fight for the Champions League qualification.
You couldn't use restlessness.
It didn't help, BVB lost 1: 2.
Haaland was more likely to attract attention through unscrupulous gestures than through spectacular scenes.
The team acted hastily, played imprecisely and disappointed all along the line.
After the final whistle it was clear: With seven points behind fourth place and only seven Bundesliga games left, it is almost impossible to achieve the goal of the season, which obviously means a lot to BVB and Haaland even more.
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It was an important week for BVB and it ended on a sobering note after unpredictable twists and turns.
Suddenly a dangerous situation arose, because in the awareness that the future of the team and club now seems to be clearly uncertain, there were scenes and statements that could quickly unleash further negative dynamics: the departure of the frustrated captain Marco Reus, who was after his replacement trotted off at a snail's pace.
Hummels speaks of "catastrophe"
Emre Can's expressions of displeasure (“I don't feel like playing in the Europa League”) and Mats Hummels' scathing criticism.
The head of defense had attested to the team that “they simply weren't good enough technically”.
Then he painted the perspectives in gloomy colors: “Not reaching the Champions League would be a disaster.
We're close to that. "
Mats Hummels (left) and Thomas Delaney after the 1: 2 against Frankfurt
Source: AFP / INA FASSBENDER
It couldn't stop like that, especially not before going to Manchester, where all of Europe will look to BVB.
On Easter Sunday, Hans-Joachim Watzke drove to the training ground.
The BVB boss took the players to his chest.
“I've always defended the team.
But I can't do that for this appearance ", he said to the" Ruhr Nachrichten ":" In such a final we have to show a different posture and a determined charisma.
Everyone has to see that we want to leave the field as winners.
It's a question of will, and the team disappointed me immensely. "
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These are clear words to the address of the players, which the chairman of the management had not given for a long time.
In fact, Watzke and also sports director Michael Zorc had held back with criticism in the current season, in which it became apparent from autumn that the team had problems continuously reaching the performance limit - towards the professionals.
Instead, the trainer had to leave.
In mid-December, Lucien Favre was given leave of absence, who was no longer trusted to stabilize the team.
Many experienced players had also moved away from him.
Dortmund are threatened with high losses
Edin Terzic took over.
But the course remained lurching: A promising start to the Terzic period - BVB was now playing much more aggressively and aggressively - setbacks followed.
The players, the majority of whom had spoken out for rather than against the change of coach, were made responsible.
The team seemed on track - until, surprisingly, they gambled almost everything within a week: with a 2-2 win in Cologne and finally with the defeat against Frankfurt.
"We're not in the right shape to say: We'll win the last seven games," said Zorc.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, managing director of Borussia Dortmund, criticized the team harshly
Source: dpa / David Inderlied
Watzke and Zorc have to state that the change of coach was not enough.
When Favre left, the gap to a Champions League place was two points, now he is more than three times as big.
Since last weekend, the future has to be carefully planned.
Because in addition to the up to 75 million euros in loss that BVB threatened due to the effects of the Corona crisis in the current financial year, additional income of 30 million euros would not flow in the coming season without the premier class.
This would severely restrict freedom of movement on the transfer market - unless BVB parted with one of its two top players: Jadon Sancho or Haaland.
Watzke comments on Haaland transfer
Well-known interested parties are speculating on this scenario.
BVB, which is used to losing important players, is still resisting it.
You take the same position on Sancho as you did last summer.
"In the event of an exceptional offer, we will discuss it with the player and agent," said Watzke, but he doubted that it would even come about.
The money nobility in England is also suffering from Corona.
During the last transfer period, Manchester United was unable to pay the rumored € 100 million transfer fee that BVB had called for.
Haaland is the most successful goalscorer in this year's Champions League with ten goals
Source: AFP / LEON KUEGELER
At Haaland, the Dortmunder's point of view is even clearer.
There is no "parallel plan" than to keep the Norwegian at least one more season, according to Watzke.
The Haaland clan's information trip through Europe did nothing to change that.
Of course, there is also a pain threshold with regard to Haaland.
It should be at 150 million.
However, it seems difficult to imagine that, despite all the quality of Haaland, there is a club that is currently able to handle a transfer of this magnitude.
With or without the Champions League: The most likely development is still that Haaland will stay until summer 2022 - then an exit clause will apply and he could be transferred for around 75 million euros.
This is probably one of the reasons why the Dortmunders hold back with criticism of Haaland: The striker is a kind of life insurance - especially with regard to the games against Manchester, in which BVB is a blatant outsider.
The star ensemble of Pep Guardiola could be exactly the challenge that at least brings about a much-needed change in mood: at Haaland and in the entire club.