Klopp: Bottom Team Dortmund within Touching Distance of Safety

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp was satisfied with his side’s performance in Saturday’s goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen, despite not creating enough chances upfront.

Dortmund are down in the basement of the German Bundesliga, with Freiburg beating Eintracht Frankfurt. They are a point adrift of safety, eight points behind second-placed Wolfsburg and 13 points behind leaders Bayern Munich, ahead of Wednesday’s midweek clash with Augsburg at the Signa Iduna Park.


“I’m happy,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. “We’ve played a good game against the side who have the most uncomfortable style to play against in the Bundesliga. This was a good first step in the second half of the season. I’m not at all disturbed (about being bottom).

Jurgen Klopp Passes Instruction to His Wards During the Game at Bayer Leverkusen. Image: Getty.

“We’ve gained a point. We’re in a relegation battle and we’re within touching distance (of safety) and that is all that interests me. We’re going to put pressure on everybody ahead of us.”

Dortmund were second best in midfield battles against a talented Leverkusen team that is unbeaten at home in the league this season. Klopp agreed the Westphalians’ passing game “weren’t accurate” but admitted there was never going to be an immediate step off the drop zone at the Bay Arena.

“There were two occasions where we could have had a run clear at goal had our passing game been more accurate. It’s a pity,” he quipped. “In confined spaces, the timing has to be perfect. We have not sought perfection today, but stability.”

The 47-year-old was also upbeat about their defensive approach to the Leverkusen game, saying: “You can’t say you’re fighting relegation and then demand champagne football. What we did today was perfectly fine. A point is always a good result in Leverkusen and this one today will do us particularly good.”

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