24/25, 2024/2025, Bundesliga, Bundesligasaison, Herren, Saison, Sport, football, soccer, Einzelaktion, Ganzfigur
Samstag 24.08.2024, 1. Bundesliga Saison 24/25 - 1. Spieltag in Dortmund,    .Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt.Nico Schlotterbeck (BVB).Copyright:.Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA.Rheinlanddamm 207-209.44137 Dortmund..(NO IPTC-stripping allowed).EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Interview

"…then it can become a really good season" – Media round with Schlotterbeck

Following the first Bundesliga match of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt, defender Nico Schlotterbeck fielded questions from journalists – and spoke about the match, his new role as a left-back and the season objectives.

Nico Schlotterbeck on the match against Frankfurt:
"The first half an hour was a bit disjointed. Frankfurt had a lot of set-pieces, and then we did not settle into the match so well. But we had the game completely under control from the 30th minute onwards. They then had that one big opportunity, but all in all it was a deserved victory. In the first match of the season, you never know exactly where you stand. But we've already shown some good signs of how we want to perform this year and so we're definitely satisfied to have started off the season with a victory."

…his role as left-back:
"I defended in the full-back position, that's something completely different. You contest more challenges than you usually would. It is of course a different position, I have to adapt, but it was fun. I saw a lot of action, the lads frequently gave me the ball and trusted me, so I was very happy about the match."

…the decision to play on the left:
"It became apparently relatively quickly at the training camp. Nuri said he would like to try it out. I only play in the full-back position off the ball. With the ball I played in a back three and could even interpret it a little bit more offensively, because we performed very dominantly in the second period in particular. Whether I'm a full-back or a centre-back, I try to always make an impact for the team. I managed that quite well at the weekend and also became a bit more comfortable with the position."

24/25, Bundesliga, Bundesligasaison, Training
Donnerstag 22.08.2024, 1. Fussball - Bundesliga Saison 24/25 -  Training in Dortmund, .BV Borussia Dortmund - Training.Nico Schlotterbeck (BVB)..Copyright:.Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA.Rheinlanddamm 207-209.44137 Dortmund..(NO IPTC-stripping allowed).EDITORIAL USE ONLY

…the new system of play:
"I think that the team is coping well. Borussia Dortmund are a big club and the players can learn very quickly. We already played the system last year when Ian (editor's note: Maatsen) always moved into the middle. But it is of course a learning process. It's not all top, top, top yet. But in the second period in particular, you could see how we want to dominate the opponent and play in the opposition's half. If we manage that over the course of the next weeks, then I'm really optimistic that we will pick up many wins."

…the new set-piece coach Alex Clapham:
"He's doing really well. He's really motivated, holds a little meeting with us once a week and tells us a few things that he wants to improve, offensively and defensively. Defensively in particular, it's already been very good. We have defended well and hardly given anything away. If going forward we score even more goals this season, we'll all be satisfied."

…the season objectives:
"The lads are all up for it so I always operate on the premise of setting the highest-possible objective. If we pick up a title somewhere this year, I'll be happy with that. But of course, the league comes above all else. We're trying to bring in more consistency than in recent years. If we perform dominantly at the weekend, then it could become a really good season."

…the Bundesliga: 
"I'm really excited for the season because I believe that it will be a great season for the spectators and that very many teams will be competing at the top. Leverkusen are the reigning champions, Bayern and Leipzig have top quality. We have a good squad and can achieve a lot. And then you will always have the underdogs who play a good season. I'm excited by my former club Freiburg. I believe that five or six clubs will pull away at the top and be relatively close to each other. I hope that we'll be there sometime in March or April and be able to say: We're in the mix too."
Transcribed by Christina Reinke

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