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German champion is not BVB: Marco Reus after the 2-2 draw against Mainz
Photograph:
IMAGO/Neundorf/Kirchner-Media / IMAGO/Kirchner-Media
Captain Marco Reus has become the first player from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund to react to the Westphalian title trauma with a time lag. "I was totally lost and too broken at first," the 33-year-old wrote on Instagram. The fact that, unlike some of his teammates, he had not gone to the consternated waiting fans in the south stand, he justified with emotional overload.
Dortmund had squandered the championship in the season finale with a 2-2 draw against FSV Mainz 05. Defending champions Bayern Munich overtook BVB in the final spurt with a 2-1 win at FC Cologne. Dortmund are still waiting for their first championship since 1.
Reus had not mourned the immeasurable disappointment after the final whistle together with the fans in front of the south stand, unlike teammates and especially coach Edin Terzic. The next day, the Dortmund native caused additional irritation when he drove away without saying a word past waiting BVB supporters after a final team meeting.
It was "currently difficult" for him, the offensive player wrote on Monday evening, "to put my thoughts, feelings and emotions into words". At the same time, Reus stressed that "positive reactions" from BVB supporters "have made it clear what is worth fighting for". That's why it's "really important to say thank you" to him. Reus openly admitted the deep frustration and horror after losing the final: "Yes, it hurts, yes, we haven't been so close for a long time."
Like BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, sporting director Sebastian Kehl and Terzic, the former Mönchengladbach player also announced a new attempt at the title for the coming season: "We will get up again, continue to work and fight."
JSO/SID