Klopp slams naive Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp has bemoaned his Borussia Dortmund side’s naivety following their 2-1 Bundesliga defeat to Cologne on Saturday.

Dortmund slumped to their fifth league loss in eight games this campaign with a lacklustre performance at the RheinEnergieStadion, and now sit just four points off the bottom.

Despite controlling possession and looking dangerous at times, Klopp’s men were unable to seal victory, with Peter Stoger’s side capitalising on shaky defending to claim all three points.

And Klopp, who had won all eight previous meetings with Cologne during his six year tenure at Dortmund before Saturday’s loss, conceded that his side only have themselves to blame.

“Today we have seen that the team wanted to win, but that is simply not enough,” Klopp complained.

“We have pressed, but we were so naive. We gave away easy balls on the edge of the danger zone, inviting the opponents to counter-attack.

“We had a relatively high ball possession in the first half, but almost no progress.

“This has led to two goals, and therefore we still are left with seven points and have to deal with that situation now.”

Ilkay Gundogan made his first competitive start for over a year after a back injury, while Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also returned to the fold.

Dortmund dictated the early proceedings, but failed to capitalise, with Ciro Immobile and Reus both squandering chances.

And they paid the price in the 40th minute when Cologne took the lead, Kevin Vogt finishing calmly past the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller.

Immobile did equalise for the visitors three minutes into the second period, but Simon Zoller poked in the winner with 15 minutes left, prodding into an open goal from close range after Weidenfeller had misjudged Yuya Osako’s cross.

Dortmund face Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League in the week, and Klopp is determined that his outfit will rediscover their defensive solidity.

“It was too easy, what we have offered to the opponent. We need to stop the error. Not tomorrow, but now,” he scathed.

“Goals we usually make – clean sheets, we need to fix that, while no one will help us.”