Disappointed Dortmund must regroup to keep title dreams alive

Chelsea’s Kai Havertz shoots to score a goal that was disallowed for an offside during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge, London, Tuesday March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Moments after his side’s controversial last-16 exit to Chelsea on Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic gave his disappointed charges time to digest the defeat.

“We’re not thinking about the season right now” Terzic told Amazon Prime on the sidelines of Stamford Bridge after the 2-0 defeat saw Dortmund eliminated 2-1 on aggregate.

“We’re simply disappointed.”

Dortmund’s run of 10 wins from 10 starts in 2023 had come to an end in contentious circumstances.

With Chelsea up 1-0, the score tied at 1-1 on aggregate, a VAR intervention found a handball against winger Marius Wolf in the box.

While Chelsea’s Kai Havertz missed the spot kick, VAR again stepped in and told him to re-take it, as Dortmund players had entered the box too early.

Havertz converted the penalty at the second attempt and Chelsea held on for a 2-0 win.

“The boys immediately wanted to look at the replay of the penalty, because they hadn’t seen it yet,” Terzic said of the incident, which took place just after half-time but dominated the post-match discussions.

After a stuttering end to 2022, Dortmund closed the nine-point gap on leaders Bayern Munich this year and now sit just behind the perennial German champions on goal difference with 11 games remaining.

Like with all runs of good form, luck had been on Dortmund’s side during their barnstorming start to 2023.

With luck deserting Dortmund in dramatic fashion in London, the challenge now for Terzic is to ensure the side’s good form and a shot at a first