By SABC Sport
5th October 2023
The 81,365 passionate spectators, filling every nook and cranny of a sold-out Signal Iduna Park, created an electrifying atmosphere. The South Stand, living up to its reputation as the 12th man, roared with unwavering support.
Despite both teams exhibiting moments of brilliance, the elusive goal remained elusive. BVB, fresh from a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their opening fixture, were eager to make amends on their home turf. AC Milan, last season's semi-finalists, had an impressive 20-year record of not losing to a Bundesliga club. With seven wins, four draws, and seven losses, Dortmund had a balanced home record against Italian opponents.
Following the intense encounter, head coach Edin Terzic, along with Julian Brandt, Felix Nmecha, Niclas Fullkrug, and Salih Ozcan, shared their thoughts with the media.
Edin Terzic, speaking at the press conference, emphasized the team's commitment and work rate, stating, "In terms of commitment, willingness to run and activity, no reproach can be made of us. What we're lacking is: turning the many possession turnovers into penetration in the final third. On that front, we made many wrong decisions. In the end, it was not enough to say that it was an undeserved draw."
Julian Brandt, in the mixed zone, echoed the sentiment, saying, "It remains to be seen what the point is ultimately worth. A lot is still possible and depends on the form on the day. We controlled the match well in many phases but attacking momentum was lacking. We played a decent game, but we've not been sitting in the dressing room satisfied. There is still work to do in the next Champions League matches."
Salih Ozcan, speaking to BVB-TV, reflected on the missed opportunities, particularly in the first half, stating, "In the first half in particular, we were well in the game and had control. We created several good chances. In the end, a goal was missing."
Niclas Fullkrug, interviewed by DAZN, assessed the team's performance, saying, "We produced a good performance, were very dominant. But I thought we were not clever. It's more a case of two points dropped. You can't write anyone in the group off for a long while yet."
Felix Nmecha, speaking to BVB-TV, provided insight into the game's dynamics, stating, "It was an open game. Both had good chances. We were not clear enough in the final third. Hence the draw. We had good moments after losing possession and got it back quickly. And we had phases in which we played good football."
As the dust settles on this thrilling contest, both Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan will be raring to make their mark in the upcoming Champions League matches.