Shooting Star
Well-known member
I got the impression that their game plan was to annihilate Mainz within the first 20 minutes and then relax and enjoy the celebrations. They played like it was the final 5 minutes of the game from the referee's whistle, leaving themselves vulnerable on the counter to an efficient team.Dortmund were absolutely dreadful today. They looked lethargic and clueless going forward. It reminded me of us and that infamous home game against nine man Walsall.
Reminiscent of the Everton game, where things happen that just aren't part of the script. Conceding from a corner, missing a penalty, not being given a stonewall second penalty and then conceding again on the counter. From that point on, they were playing against 11 men parked in the box, requiring something different like an Enciso type player to unpick them.
What I didn't get was having Bellingham on the bench but not using him. I understand having an injured player on the bench and planning to only use him in an emergency. The second half was that emergency! If they weren't going to bring him on in a game like that, then I'm not sure what the point of having him on the bench was at all.
Gutted for them today. I wanted Dortmund and Coventry to win and I got neither!