“I have many memories of sporty Graz. Sturm are not favorites now, but you have to recognize that they are doing well, especially in the last two or three years. They have overtaken Salzburg a bit. They have a clear philosophy that they follow, and you have to take your hat off to that,” said Sabitzer at the official media event. But one thing is beyond question: “Our mission is clear: win against them tomorrow,” said Sabitzer.
The 30-year-old played in central midfield against Leipzig in a 4-3-3 system. Sabitzer sees himself in the best possible hands there. “I feel most comfortable in the center, that is well known, the coach also knows that. But wherever I am placed, I give my best,” said the Austrian international.
Sturm Graz meets Borussia Dortmund
Sturm Graz will face traditional German club Borussia Dortmund in the fourth round of the Champions League on Tuesday.
His calf problems subsided after two treatments. On Tuesday, Sabitzer could also start in midfield against Sturm. He will grit his teeth. “I’m not one to be snivelling,” said Sabitzer. “The games are becoming more and more, there are hardly any breaks, the national team is there too. It’s not unusual for it to pinch.”
Home power with worries
Even if Dortmund have repeatedly missed out this season, at least at home everything is going according to plan. The Black and Yellows also won their sixth competitive game of the season in their own stadium against Leipzig. Coach Nuri Sahin had to name almost an entire team for the Leipzig game – including prominent names such as goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (hip problems) and striker Karim Adeyemi (torn hamstring), who will not be an issue yet.
“We’re on the fence here. “We have to somehow save ourselves from this injury situation during the international break,” said the BVB coach, who can at least speculate that defenders Waldemar Anton and Julian Ryerson will return against Sturm. “We hope to get as many people together as possible.”
The Dortmund team, where Sahin and leading players like captain Emre Can have already been subjected to heavy public criticism in recent weeks, have at least a little of their self-confidence back. At least Leipzig managed to win against a team that had not lost 19 league games in a row. BVB had suffered defeats in four of the previous five competitive games – but all of them away from home.
Sahin has to live with criticism
In their own stadium, Borussia show a completely different face. “We are brutally good at home this season,” said German team defender Nico Schlotterbeck. Despite the losses, they played against Leipzig the way Borussia Dortmund wanted to play: actively moving forward. “That was our best game of the season for over 90 minutes,” praised Sahin. “The victory was very, very important for the path we are taking.”
This also applies to his own standing in the club’s environment, which suffered further during the week due to the cup exit against Wolfsburg (0-1 n.V.). “I understand the criticism, except for the criticism that goes below the belt,” said the 36-year-old former kicker, who succeeded Edin Terzic in the summer. “Anything to do with football, I suppose. When I signed the contract here, I knew that I would be in the spotlight.” Now also against Sturm Graz.
