Borussia Dortmund face injury woes with late calls on key players

Coach Nuri Sahin provided updates on several players during a press conference on Friday, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding their lineup.

Julian Ryerson, Maximilian Beier, and Julian Brandt are all in doubt for the weekend's game. Ryerson had to be substituted at halftime during Dortmund's previous match against Barcelona, while Beier and Brandt were absent from that matchday squad entirely.

Sahin was cautious with his words, stating, "We will have to wait and see about Julian Ryerson. The same goes for Maxi Beier and Julian Brandt."

The situation was somewhat brighter for Karim Adeyemi, who has been back on the bench after overcoming an injury that kept him out for several weeks. Sahin commented, "Karim Adeyemi wanted to play against Barca. But we have to be careful. He's training very well, he's physically stable and he looks fresh."

He further noted that Adeyemi is a "candidate for the last two games," indicating a cautious return to competitive play.

In a more concerning development, defender Nico Schlotterbeck was stretchered off during the Barcelona game. However, the initial fears were alleviated by a subsequent medical report. Sahin reassured, "The diagnosis is positive, as far as I can tell. We'll have to see how it develops and if he's fit in time [for next week's game against Wolfsburg], which will be very difficult."

He clarified the situation further: "We already have the exact diagnosis. It's not what it looked like on the pictures. It is something, but not what we feared."

This late decision-making on player fitness underscores the challenges Dortmund face as they navigate the remainder of the season with their sights set on maintaining their competitive edge in the Bundesliga.

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