Borussia Dortmund Stars Blast 'Not the Best Week' as Brutal Baku Travel Schedule Takes Its Toll
Borussia Dortmund's players and staff have lifted the lid on the punishing travel demands that framed their week, after Tuesday evening's 2-1 Champions League victory over Sabah FK in Azerbaijan finally brought a gruelling seven-day itinerary to a welcome close.
Veerman: 'I came home for 12 hours'
Midfielder Joey Veerman spoke candidly about the toll the schedule has taken on his family life, revealing that he had barely set foot at home between Dortmund's recent European and Bundesliga fixtures.
"Yeah, it definitely wasn't the best week," Veerman told reporters in the mixed zone following the victory in Baku. "I have a family at home with two kids. I came home for 12 hours. I came back for 12 hours and then we flew to Baku."
The Dutch international was referring to an itinerary that has taken the club from northern Norway to Berlin and then Azerbaijan in the space of just seven days. After last Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat against Bodø/Glimt, the Schwarzgelben travelled to the German capital for Saturday's goalless draw against Union Berlin.
"Not the best week," the 27-year-old concluded. "To end it with a win is obviously very nice."
Kobel refuses to use travel as an excuse
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel also spoke openly about the physical demands of a schedule that has afforded the squad little time to recover. Speaking to DAZN after Tuesday's victory, the Swiss international described the constant travel, hotel stays and limited recovery periods as particularly exhausting.
Kobel, however, insisted that such difficulties must never be used to excuse disappointing performances.
Book: 'The trip isn't over just yet'
Sporting director Nils-Ole Book acknowledged the unusual demands of Dortmund's latest European excursion, even as he savoured the result.
"That makes us all the more happy that we picked up the three points," Book told reporters in the mixed zone. "The trip isn't over just yet. We still have to ensure that the players make it home safely and have time to regenerate. After that, I'll be very glad when we play at home again."
The no-shower detail in Baku
There was also an unusual detail surrounding Dortmund's departure from the Baku Olympic Stadium. The players left the ground without showering, heading directly back to their hotel instead. Book suggested that the stadium's shower facilities were considerably less inviting than those available at the team's accommodation.
Head coach Niko Kovac later explained that the players had been advised against using the stadium's shower facilities, even after training the previous day.
"You can interpret that however you like," the sporting director remarked. "It's just not exactly posh."
Relief at last after winless run
Against that backdrop, Tuesday's victory in Baku came as a welcome relief. Kovac's team had entered the encounter without a win in three matches, having surrendered a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen before suffering disappointing results in Norway and Berlin. Serhou Guirassy's two goals in Baku finally brought that sequence to an end.
Despite Dortmund creating numerous opportunities, the contest remained competitive until the final whistle. Sabah equalised shortly before halftime and almost struck again in the closing stages, but Dortmund were ultimately able to protect their narrow lead and secure a second Champions League victory of the campaign.
For Dortmund, the logistical demands of the trip should finally begin to ease when the team returns to Germany on Wednesday. The Schwarzgelben are scheduled to host Eintracht Frankfurt in Saturday evening's Bundesliga encounter at Signal Iduna Park, providing a welcome opportunity to play in familiar surroundings after three successive away fixtures.