Borussia Dortmund chief launches into X-rated blast after Rangers defeat in Europa League
Rangers fans gather outside Ibrox
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Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke snapped at claims made after Rangers stormed to a famous 4-2 victory at the Westfalenstadion on Thursday evening. The result puts the German side at risk of a Europa League exit, despite starting the tie amongst the favourites to lift the trophy.
Although Dortmund can boast the likes of Jude Bellingham and Marco Reus, it was the Scottish outfit who raced into an unlikely three-goal lead.
James Tavernier kick-started the Gers’ spectacular away day from the penalty spot before Alfredo Morelos stormed in at the far post to poke home.
John Lundstram then bagged the pick of the bunch to spark yet more bedlam in the Rangers end, before BVB’s Dan-Axel Zagadou bundled into his own net.
Jude Bellingham and Raphael Guerreiro notched two on the night for Dortmund, but it was not enough to prevent a famous win for the visitors, and a dismal evening for the hosts.
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Star striker Erling Haaland, who was forced to sit out through injury, was pictured sulking in the stands as he watched Rangers run riot.
There had been talk of a BVB crisis meeting after the final whistle, but CEO Watzke emphatically dismissed those claims.
In fact, he told SID: “[That’s] total bull****. There was no meeting.”
For Marco Rose’s team, their 4-2 hammering was their third defeat in five games, including another recent mauling at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen earlier in February.
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Thursday night may have shown Watzke and co a flash-forward of what life could be like next season when Haaland is expected to leave the club for good.
Speculation has surrounded the prolific Norwegian since he burst onto the scene as a teenager with RB Salzburg, and his £62million release clause, which can be activated in the summer, makes his departure a virtual certainty.
All told, Watzke’s x-rated blast could be a sign of Dortmund’s tense situation, although they still have the second leg of their Europa League last 16 play-off to turn things around.
Rangers, meanwhile, will be aiming to beat last year’s run in the competition, which saw them knocked out in the last 16 by Slavia Prague.
“Away [from home], I think [this is up there with Rangers’ best European results],” said Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst after Thursday’s game.
“To win away against Dortmund and scored four goals, in Europe, we know that’s a very good achievement.
“We were very calm on the ball and we were in control, of course.
“I’m proud of the result we have today, but I also know that we are only halfway, so we need to prepare for the battle we face next week.”
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