Shocked Dortmund in reported crisis talks

Borussia Dortmund executives have reportedly held a crisis meeting into the night after the Bundesliga giants were hammered 4-2 at home by Rangers in the first leg of their Europa League play-off.

Chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke, sporting director Michael Zorc, head of professional football Sebastian Kehl and coach Marco Rose were involved in the discussions, Sky television reported on Friday.

Dortmund denied the reports but Zorc was scathing about the team's efforts and demanded better.

"It was an embarrassing performance from the first to the last minute," he told the Bild newspaper.

"We played lame. It was a performance to be ashamed of.

"The team was not ready for this duel. If they have balls, they'll turn it around in the second leg."

However, Zorc also said "there is no discussion about the coach".

Rose took responsibility for the performance in a post-match interview with broadcaster RTL and promised to take a harder line with his under-performing stars.

Dortmund are six points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race ahead of their weekend meeting with Rose's former club Borussia Monchengladbach.

They were eliminated from the Champions League at the group phase and knocked out of the German Cup by second-tier St Pauli.