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Bosz under pressure as Schalke visits
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Germany鈥檚 biggest derby will be a big day for Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Bosz.
Hanging onto his position tenuously with his team in crisis, Bosz will lead his players against Schalke tomorrow knowing that a loss in the Ruhr derby could spell the end of his stay.
Dortmund hasn鈥檛 won in the league since September, and Tuesday鈥檚 1-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League extended a spiraling feeling of helplessness under the former Ajax coach.
The match against Tottenham was symbolic of Dortmund鈥檚 season: A good start full of promise followed by a rude awakening and then collapse. After Harry Kane equalized, Son Heung-min took advantage of lackluster defending to earn the win.
Despite the home loss, Dortmund鈥檚 players lined up together in front of their fans, who already had their minds on tomorrow鈥檚 showdown. They displayed a large banner stressing the importance of the game. 鈥淥n Saturday it counts: Everything for the derby win!鈥 it said.
Schalke arrives at the Westfalenstadion full of confidence after five wins in seven unbeaten games, including the German Cup. In its last five league games, Schalke has collected 12 points more than Dortmund and is now second behind Bayern Munich.
鈥淭he table isn鈥檛 that important after 12 match days. We鈥檙e not concerned with it,鈥 said Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco, who has built a solid if unspectacular side based on strong defense.
Schalke鈥檚 10 goals conceded in 12 league games is bettered only by Bayern鈥檚 eight.
Bayern, which visits Borussia Moenchengladbach for the late game tomorrow, was five points behind Dortmund last month but is now nine points clear. Dortmund hasn鈥檛 won since losing its 41-game unbeaten run at home against RB Leipzig.
鈥淲e need to step it up, and we have a big chance to do that this weekend,鈥 said Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic, who will face his friend, Winston McKennie.
The 19-year-old McKennie has been playing an important role under Tedesco, making nine Bundesliga appearances already and playing the full games in his last two. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good feeling being in front of them,鈥 the midfielder said of Schalke鈥檚 3-point lead over Dortmund.
Leon Goretzka, Schalke鈥檚 creative force in midfield, could return after recovering from a lower-leg injury that kept him out since the win over Mainz on October 20.
Bosz knows his team desperately needs a win to pull out of its slump 鈥 and probably to save his job. Dortmund has won only one of its last nine games across all competitions. 鈥淲e have to win the derby,鈥 Bosz said. 鈥淲in. I know that it鈥檚 important we win the game against Schalke 鈥 also for my position, of course.鈥
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