In the summer, Borussia Dortmund and Manuel Akanji decided to go their separate ways. Actually, everyone involved should be able to live with that. After all, BVB has found two excellent central defenders in Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck, while Akanji has found a place with an absolutely top club. Nevertheless, shreds are flying between the parties.

Borussia Dortmund and Manuel Akanji not only fought each other on the pitch on Wednesday evening, but also fought a small media mud battle. It all started with statements from the central defender that in the weeks leading up to his departure "the principle of performance no longer counted" and that he was left out, no matter how well he trained. In the Blick interview, the Swiss also stated that he had never discussed numbers with BVB regarding a possible contract extension, that he was never concerned with money and that "things were alleged in Dortmund" that "were not correct".

First, Edin Terzic countered and explained that Akanji himself had announced his departure and that Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck had therefore been signed. As part of the Champions League cracker against Manchester City, sports director Sebastian Kehl confirmed Terzic's thesis and showed a lack of understanding for Manuel Akanji's statements. "We would have liked to have extended Manuel because he is simply a good player and now not for nothing at Manchester City shows up," he explained in an interview with DAZN. Nevertheless, in place of the player, he would have "saved the statements that came afterwards". The question arises as to who is telling the truth right now and who is fibbing a little. It is clear, however, that this discussion is no longer of any use to anyone.

This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as BVB: Kehl shoots back at Akanji.