Bundesliga
Reus: "We have to keep our heads up"
After a second 2-2 draw in a row, Borussia Dortmund have dropped to seventh in the Bundesliga table with one win in five matches. Despite the dip in form, club captain Marco Reus believes a positive mindset on the pitch is essential to help them get back on the winning horse.
Speaking to bundesliga.com after Dortmund's draw at home to Werder Bremen on Matchday 6, Reus discussed how BVB can improve before looking ahead to their upcoming UEFA Champions League Group F meeting with Sparta Prague.
bundesliga.com: Marco Reus, how did Dortmund let the game slip against Bremen in the second half?
Marco Reus: "At half-time, at 2-1, everything was fine. Then we didn't play with grit and determination. Usually, we know that we turn it on again in the second half - especially when we play towards the Yellow Wall - even after an equaliser from our opponents. But we created too few clear-cut scoring chances this time. That simply wasn't enough in the second half. That's something we have to look at."
bundesliga.com: Is the team missing a killer instinct?
Reus: "We didn't finish things properly. You can't play the second half like that, it just wasn't good enough. Somehow we lacked power going forward. We have to go in search of the third goal more often. We're also lacking a bit of luck in that sense at the moment."
bundesliga.com: Even in Frankfurt and now against Bremen, Dortmund have given up a lead. Why is this happening to the team?
Reus: "If we knew that, we would stop it from happening. Sometimes it's just the fact that we don't win some challenges, lose the ball unnecessarily and therefore automatically give our opponents an advantage. Bremen also scored two of their three chances on goal in the game. The opening goal was totally unnecessary as we lost the ball ourselves in the middle of the pitch. These are little things that are going against us at the moment. We have to put a stop to these little mistakes and focus on our game, and more on scoring the third goal."
bundesliga.com: Are they 'little' things? After all, Dortmund have won only one of their last five games.
Reus: "I don't think we're playing terribly. We take the lead and work for more scoring chances, but we haven't been able to finish them. We have to get that right. Of course, we're not satisfied with the last two games and the two points, because there was more in it for us. Nevertheless, we have to stay calm within the team. We have to analyse things the way we always do. We have to stay positive and work hard. These are the things that have made us strong. We have to cut out the mistakes. And we have to keep our heads up because there's no let-up in the schedule."
bundesliga.com: How was the mood in the dressing room after the final whistle?
Reus: "Of course the mood wasn't good. We'd all imagined coming away with a different result. Especially at home, we really wanted to win the game. Each individual is really disappointed. But as I said, we're going to analyse the game now and need to keep our heads up. The match in Prague on Wednesday will be a really tough one."
bundesliga.com: In your opinion, what is the real sticking point at the moment - the lack of determination to go for the decisive goal, or the inability to keep the opposition out at home?
Reus: "I'd say that, especially in the second half, we just didn't invest enough to leave the pitch as winners. Of course, we had our scoring opportunities in the last 10 to 15 minutes. But not as we'd imagined it ourselves. Especially at home, we have to exert more pressure and nail the opponent to the wall. But if you conceded goals as we did, it's not easy to score three or four goals and go in front. Sometimes we have to be able to win 1-0 or 2-1. We can't do that right now."