10
May

Borussia Dortmund’s secret weapon?

To become one of the top clubs in the world, you are going to need to every advantage you can get. Borussia Dortmund’s advantage comes in the form of the Footbonaut. 

The Footbonaut is a sophisticated arena that launches soccer balls and lights up squares that enable the player to improve their technique, spacial awareness, and peripheral vision, as well as the ability to believe they are in a sci-fi movie. 

Dortmund’s coach Jurgen Klopp: 

“It is the perfect tool to improve ball-handling skills. It demands precise skills used at speed in a physically tough environment. It’s quite a package!”

Having had the Footbonaut for nearly a year now, I think it’s safe to say that it’s played a role in getting the club to the UEFA Champions League Final and it might be time for other teams to get on board.

4
May

Dortmund fans won’t be forgiving Mario Gotze any time soon

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During Saturday’s Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich — the club that Gotze will join this summer — fans made their feelings clear. They’re hurt, and they’re angry.

The 20-year-old is a product of Dortmund’s youth academy, and when the news broke that he would move to Bayern this summer, fans were understandably shocked and enraged.

If the rising star can help deliver the Champions League title in May, perhaps that will make the pain of him signing with their biggest rivals sting a little bit less? Possibly, but even if BVB fans can find it in their hearts to temporarily forgive, they’ll never forget.

4
May

King David wanted by European giant

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David Luiz’s stunning season with Chelsea has not gone unnoticed by Barcelona, so recently humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The Catalans are desperate to find a center-back to replace ageing defender Carles Puyol. Luiz can also play in midfield and scores spectacular long-range goals too. When was the last time Barca scored one of those? Click here for this and more rumors about Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski.

3
May

Trecker’s Travels, Day Two: Hello Wembley!

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Photo: Jamie Trecker / FOX Soccer

By Jamie Trecker

LONDON, ENGLAND

Wembley Stadium will turn seven later on this year. For a toddler, it’s getting quite a workout. Over the next several weeks, London’s iconic stadium will host the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals and then the Football League promotion playoffs – the richest game in all of soccer.

On Thursday, we were invited to an FA program shoot (you’ll see it on May 25) that will show off some of the stadium’s history and legacy. One of the most surprising things about it is how vibrant a venue it is outside of game days. During our taping, Wembley was crawling with tours, so many that the guides had to call in reinforcements and extend hours. It should come as no surprise that many of these visitors spoke German.

One thing that those visitors got to see – and did not know it – was the Champions League trophy itself. It’s kept in a silver gig crate up in the FA’s office on the fourth floor, and two young men carry it down to you. As we had the trophy outside, next to Bobby Moore’s statue, for security purposes we asked the tour group leaders to tell the visitors it was a replica. But, I can tell you now, that if you were a visitor between 2:30 and 3:30 on Thursday, you saw the real thing. Special congratulations to the enterprising little boy who went up and touched it.

Read More

3
May

C’mon Marco, oldest trick in the book!

Robert Lewandowski tripped Marco Reus on a warm-up lap at Dortmund training camp earlier this season in a classic display of trolling by the Pole. 

With Dortmund’s sights set on the Champions League final against Bayern in a few weeks’ time, Lewandowski will look to trip up the Munich defense next. Dante, Boateng, Lahm: you’ve been warned.

3
May

Klopp that! United eyes Ferguson replacement

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From time to time speculation arises about Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United. Of course, we all know that the 71-year-old Scot is immortal and is unlikely to retire any time soon but that hasn’t stopped the UK media from guessing about who will eventually take charge at Old Trafford.

Everyone thought it would be Jose Mourinho but now that it seems that he will return to Chelsea eyes have turned towards Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. Click here for this and some very interesting gossip about Chicharito, plus the rest of the tittle tattle about the Premier League.

2
May

Balotelli splits with girlfriend Neguesha after Real Madrid bet?

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Sadly, and perhaps inevitably, Mario Balotelli and the Belgian model Fanny Neguesha are no longer an item.

It seems hard to believe that the two could have split after the AC Milan striker allegedly offered the opportunity for the Real Madrid squad to sleep with his girlfriend if they overcame a 4-1 deficit against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Of course, she had no say in the matter!

Incredibly, Gazzetta dello Sport is claiming that Balotelli dumped Neguesha, but whoever forced the split Neguesha has had a narrow escape.  

1
May

Chelsea looks to lure Special One

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After last night’s dramatic 2-0 win but 4-3 aggregate loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho seemed to concede that La Liga was not his destination next season.

Speculation is rife as to where he’ll be off next, but former club Chelsea appear top of most people’s shortlists. The Blues are aiming to lure him towards Stamford Bridge themselves this summer, offering a whopping $150 million transfer war chest to the Portuguese maestro. For more news on JoMo, Wenger, Benteke and Bale’s future, take a look at today’s Paper Chase.

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30
Apr

Jurgen Klopp sets players loose to party in Madrid

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Beloved manager Jurgen Klopp could probably run for Lord Mayor of Dortmund right now after his Borussia Dortmund team secured their spot in the Champions League final. If he did, his players would likely be the first to sprint to the ballot boxes after he set them loose to party in Madrid on Tuesday night.

 “We play Bayern at the weekend, but we also have a day’s more rest than them, so I won’t deny the team that chance to go out and celebrate,” Klopp said after his side secured their spot in the Champions League final. “Nuri [Sahin] apparently knows his way around Madrid, or so I’ve heard. I’ll stay in the hotel and have a few beers there.”

“I’ll definitely not deny the players’ celebrations – what kind of muppet would I be if I did?”

If Klopp were Lord Mayor of Dortmund, his first order of business would definitely be to throw a big, beer-filled party. And there would be dancing. Lots of dorky, goofy dancing.

Klopp2013.

30
Apr

Sky Sports Germany felt so confident that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund would march on to the Champions League final that it came out with this outrageous advertisement mocking its Spanish opponents ahead of the semifinal second legs.

The ad opens in a Spanish bull-fighting arena with a matador screaming in agony. We then see the matador, fat, disheveled and defeated, with a Bayern and a Dortmund flag sticking out of his rear end. The words then appear on the screen: “Adios Amigos! The road to Wembley” (translated)

Cheeky? Arrogant? Maybe, but who can blame Sky after the two Bundesliga squads outscored Spain’s Barcelona and Real Madrid by a combined score of 8-1 in the first legs.

The ad hasn’t jinxed the German teams yet, but it certainly came close. Borussia Dortmund held off a spirited Madrid rally on Tuesday, losing 0-2 but squeaking by on aggregate, 4-3.