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Sports director Sebastian Kehl stands on the sidelines during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund at Millerntor stadium. Borussia Dortmund bosses will take a close look over the next weeks which players they consider to have a future at the Bundesliga club, Kehl has said. Marcus Brandt/dpa
Borussia Dortmund bosses will take a close look over the next weeks which players they consider to have a future at the Bundesliga club, sporting director Sebastian Kehl has said.
Dortmund are going through a poor domestic season, ranked 11th and in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2015, and for Europe at all.
They are still in the Champions League but face a difficult quarter-final tie against Barcelona next month.
Dortmund play top four contenders Mainz, Freiburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and visit leaders Bayern Munich in their next four Bundesliga matches.
Kehl warning
Kehl told Friday's Ruhr Nachrichten paper that the coming weeks are crucial for the club and for the players, as club leaders will have a close look at "which players Borussia Dortmund can build on in the future.
"Who will take on this situation now? Who faces up to it and who will take responsibility?
"We now need men who are up for a challenge, who are eager to attack and don't hide. That's what the fans want to see, we owe it to them. We will take a very close look at who follows this course."
No player contract expires but there could still be a squad overhaul, Kehl warned.
"Being 11th in the Bundesliga is very, very unsatisfactory. For our fans, for the club, for the team and also for me personally," he said.
"Our squad has caused bitter disappointment on several occasions. It has been put together for completely different expectations and demands. We have one of the most expensive squads in the Bundesliga, and we're not living up to it."
Kovac to strengthen players
Coach Niko Kovac on Friday agreed with Kehl that they will have to decide what happens in summer but that it is "now about strengthening the players so that we get everything they have out of them."
Kovac urged a big effort, starting on Sunday against Mainz who in third are one of the season's surprise teams and two years ago denied Dortmund the title by holding them 2-2 on the final matchday.
"We have to win this match, regardless of how we do it. We all have a responsibility. That is our focus," Kovac told reporters on Friday.
"Mainz are doing a really good job. They are difficult to play and very efficient. They are on a roll. But we are playing at home and want to win this match together with our fans."
Team news
Kovac said that everyone has returned healthy from the international break, that Carney Chukwuemeka and Daniel Svensson are fit again, and Felix Nmecha also nearing a return.
"We have eight more games in the Bundesliga and hopefully more than two in the Champions League. We need every player. We will try to get everything out of it," Kovac said.
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Sports director, Sebastian Kehl, speaks during the press conference introducing Borussia Dortmund's new coach at Signal Iduna Park media center. Borussia Dortmund bosses will take a close look over the next weeks which players they consider to have a future at the Bundesliga club, Kehl has said. Bernd Thissen/dpa
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