Reus rues ´catastrophic day´ as Leverkusen thrash Dortmund

Marco Reus has labelled Borussia Dortmund’s heavy 5-2 defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen “a catastrophic day” for the club.

The sides traded early own goals, but Dortmund were 3-1 down by the 28th minute and then conceded twice more in the second half before Steffen Tigges’ late consolation.

After six wins in a row in this fixture, BVB were beaten at home by Leverkusen for the first time since 2014 and conceded five at home to their North Rhine-Westphalia rivals for the first time ever; Leverkusen had never previously netted more than three in Dortmund.

Dortmund actually matched Leverkusen in terms of expected goals, with both teams creating chances worth 1.86 xG, but Reus was not looking for excuses.

Although his side remain second in the Bundesliga, they are now nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

“It’s a catastrophic day for us,” Reus told Sky Sports. “We didn’t get into the game well and were a step too late in every situation. We then [allowed] counter-attacks,  even though we agreed before the game that that’s their strength. We will be punished for that. It was just not enough today.

“We simply didn’t implement the guidelines we prepared [before] the game for two weeks and worked on a lot. We always say the same thing and then have to bring it onto the pitch. We didn’t manage that today. A very bitter day, we didn’t deserve [to win] today. It was really, really bad overall.”

4 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen have scored four goals in a #Bundesliga away match in Dortmund for the first time in club history. Quartet. #BVBB04 pic.twitter.com/r9DF1Jj3pO

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 6, 2022

He added: “If I had the answer [to BVB’s inconsistency], we would change it immediately. At some point, it’s also a mental problem because we worry too much. It’s like a blockage, but nonetheless, we have to have different body language.”

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel agreed with Reus’ assessment of the team’s failings, saying: “We did exactly what we had been warning [each other] about all week.

“We knew that they had enormous speed and a dangerous transition game, and yet there were many situations in which they counter-attacked too easily could and also appeared freely in front of me.

“[The lack of consistency] is frustrating. We’re a team and we win and lose together. Today we didn’t put what we had to on the pitch together. We can’t always play two games well and one badly, but we have to keep up the good performances.

“We talk about it a lot and it annoys me. There are definitely better things than conceding five goals at home.”