Dortmund, Germany – Borussia Dortmund dey enter dem final match for di Bundesliga season with hope, as dem don win seven out of di last eight games. Sport director Sebastian Kehl talk say, ‘di faith don come back.’ But dem still get some past trauma wey dey haunt dem, as dem sabi wetin happen two years ago when dem lose di championship on di last day with 2:2 draw against Mainz.
This Saturday, Dortmund go face off against Holstein Kiel, wey don already relegated. Dis match go hold for 3:30 PM and e get serious implications for Dortmund’s Champions League qualification. If dem fit win by at least two goals, dem go guarantee demself di fourth spot wey go qualify dem. However, di air thick with tension as memories of past failures dey linger.
Coach Niko Kovac don try to shift di weight from di players by stressing say, ‘We no need to dig into di past,’ as he encourage dem to focus on wetin make dem strong for di past few weeks. Kehl don emphasize say di current situation different from before, as dem dey chase fourth place, and no longer dey rely on others. ‘We get everything to gain and nothing to lose,’ he insist. But di truth be say, di pressure don increase significantly.
Dortmund don show say dem na di hottest team for di league as dem dey score plenty goals and many players dey perform well. Karim Adeyemi dey fit now and dey defend well, while goalkeeper Gregor Kobel dey radiate confidence. Pascal Groß and Waldemar Anton don step up as leaders, and Niklas Süle, wey people doubt im ability to return to top form, don become a mainstay in di team. Julian Brandt too dey shine, with twelve goal contributions for di last three matches alone, according to Lars Ricken, di sporting director.
Di tactical adjustments wey Kovac don make don bring about a significant change. Im don ensure di players understand di commitments expected from dem and dat results matter over individual performances. ‘Him dey reward good performance,’ Ricken comment on Kovac’s management style, highlighting di changes since Nuri Sahin’s time.
As di match draw near, di pressure gon mount. If Kiel somehow takes an early lead, it fit throw Dortmund into chaos. ‘We need to be mentally strong,’ Kovac caution. Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt and SC Freiburg also dey battle for di Champions League next weekend, sowing di seeds of tension for all contenders.
Frankfurt, with 57 points, dey one point ahead of Dortmund. If dem can get at least one point against Freiburg, dem gon secure di spot for di Champions League. Meanwhile, Freiburg wey dey third with 55 points, must fend off a resolute Dortmund if dem want to qualify.
Di stakes don high for all three clubs. For Frankfurt, dis match against Freiburg could determine whether dem go maintain dem position in di top four or fall out. ‘It no go be easy, but we don train well, and di players understand wetin dey at stake,’ Hellmann, di Eintracht board member, explain. He don try to calm di fears of hin fans, declaring dem ready to take on di challenge.
Dis season finale go display di strength of mind and character for all teams involved. With di pressure on, every decision go count and di outcome of di matches go determine wetin story go be for di next season.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
