Shaky defense, lame offensive - at Borussia Dortmund the gap between claim and reality is growing. In the event of a second-round knockout in the cup on Wednesday (6 p.m.) at Hannover 96, turbulent times are imminent.

After a disappointing season in the Bundesliga so far with four defeats in ten games, Edin Terzic's team, which has slipped into the gray mediocrity, is under a lot of pressure. The soccer teacher hopes that a lively discussion with the team on Monday will have a positive effect: "It was very loud, very clear and very open. We hope that we can do better as soon as possible."

In view of the recent setbacks, the need to speak in Dortmund is great. "You can be sure that the boys already know what it's about," the coach replied to questions after the team meeting, where the mistakes from the poor performance on Sunday at leaders 1. FC Union Berlin (0: 2) were worked up should be. "It's not that they turn a blind eye. What bothers us is that if you listen to them, then we hear the right things. Only then is it a matter of putting it into practice on the pitch. That's the big task now." commented Terzic.

Süle: "Alarm bells must be ringing"

The frustration over the defeat in Berlin runs deep in everyone involved. National player Niklas Süle found clear words before returning to Dortmund: "The alarm bells must be ringing for us. We can't go on like this and have to analyze it brutally." The meager earnings of the past few weeks give the new signing from Munich something to think about: "We are praised every week for our potential. But then we also have to play with conviction."

The bare figures alone document the dilemma. Compared to the same point last season, there were eight points and 14 fewer goals. The fact that a supposed top team has a negative goal difference (13:14) after ten match days completes the picture. Especially in the last three Bundesliga away games in Leipzig (0:3), Cologne (2:3) and Berlin (0:2) there was a lack of passion and wit. "Eighth place is not our goal. That's not what we expect. We have to live with the criticism that's coming," said sports director Sebastian Kehl to the "Ruhr Nachrichten".

Bumblebee sour

It speaks for the different opinions in the team that defense chief Mats Hummels repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the "heel, tip, one, two, three" football of many beautiful players in the squad. The fact that Karim Adeyemi started the goal to make it 2-0 in Berlin with a failed back-heel trick led the defender to comment again. "Sometimes the simple 20-meter back pass is the best solution, even if it doesn't come up on social media afterwards," commented the 33-year-old veteran and world champion of 2014 without naming the attacker. Terzic asked for understanding for Hummels' public criticism: "Mats goes ahead and addresses the issues. This time he spoke to us again."

With a similar attitude as recently in Leipzig, Cologne and Berlin, it should also be difficult in Hanover to initiate the hoped-for trend reversal. Borussia felt how tricky cup games can be with a second division team last season when they knocked out FC St. Pauli (1-2) in the round of 16. "It won't be an easy task. It's a second division team again, it's a strong team again and it's a knockout game again. But we are aware of our role as favorites and want to live up to it," said Terzic.