Borussia Dortmund director Michael Zorc has told Bild that his side had an ‘achievement to be ashamed of’ with their defeat to Rangers in the Europa League knockout round play-off.
The Gers stunned BVB in Germany on Thursday evening to win the first-leg of their tie 4-2. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men stormed to a two-goal lead late in the first-half after Dan-Axel Zagadou conceded a penalty for handball before Alfredo Morelos swiftly struck home.
Brilliant play from Ryan Kent on the left-wing then led to John Lundstram striking a third in the 49th-minute. And while Jude Bellingham gave Dortmund hope of a comeback, the Gers restored their two-goal lead when Zagadou turned Morelos’ cross into Gregor Kobel’s net.
Raphael Guerreiro managed to reply in the later stages to keep Borussia Dortmund in touch of Rangers. UEFA ditching away goals from this season also gives the Bundesliga side hope of a comeback come next Thursday’s second-leg at Ibrox when Erling Haaland could return.
Dortmund chief Zorc issues ‘ashamed’ verdict on ‘embarrassing’ Rangers nightmare
Borussia Dortmund director of football Zorc demands Marco Rose’s side produce a better response when they visit Rangers next week. The Bundesliga outfit’s performance at the Westfalenstadion enraged the German, who felt the tie could have been the perfect night.
“I’m still shocked, I can’t find the words!” Zorc said. “It was an embarrassing performance from the first minute to the last, an embarrassing performance.
“Thursday evening, floodlight game, light drizzle but not too cold, European Cup against a traditional club like Glasgow Rangers – what more could you ask for?
“But the team didn’t accept the game, wasn’t ready for this duel. If they have balls, they turn that [around] in the second-leg. We played sluggishly and didn’t increase the number of strokes at the decisive moment. It was an achievement to be ashamed of!”
Losing to Rangers was just the latest European nightmare for Borussia Dortmund so far this season. BVB crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage after losing 4-0 away and 3-1 at home to Ajax. They also lost 3-1 at Sporting Lisbon, but won 2-1 at Besiktas.
Dortmund losing on the road to Ajax and Sporting could now offer Rangers confidence they can repeat their Westfalenstadion result. BVB also lost 2-1 away from home to second-tier St Pauli in the DFB-Pokal last month. So, the Gers pulling off a repeat is not impossible.
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