Dortmund - Instead of the hoped-for last-gasp reprive in Europe, there was only a dramatic last-gasp 3-2 defeat against Olympique Marseille to be had for Borussia Dortmund in their final Champions League group stage outing on Tuesday.


The disappointment was compounded by the fact that BVB, effectively needing a four-goal victory to finish above Marseille and at least qualify for the Europa League, had got off to the ideal start. Goals from Jakub Blaszczykowski (23') and Mats Hummels (31') put them firmly in the driving seat, before the French visitors pulled one back deep into added time at the end of the first half. A double strike inside the final ten minutes completed the turnaround, putting the seal on Borussia's Janus-faced return to the highest level of the European game.

Poor points return

One win and four points from their six matches left the German champions well adrift at the bottom of Group F, arguably underscoring yet again the particular experience and skillset required to succeed in Europe's elite club competition. Midfielder Mario Götze faced the press afterwards to discuss the game and the team's European campaign as a whole.

Question: Mario Götze, just how disappointed are the team after the 3-2 loss to Marseille and the early exit from Europe?

Mario Götze: It's all the more bitter after this result, that's for sure. We started very well and quickly got ourselves 2-0 in front. Obviously it was unfortunate to concede a goal so close to half time. That kind of threw us off-track a bit.

Question: Was that the game effectively over for BVB, or did you still have a residual hope?

Götze: There's always hope, obviously. If we'd scored again at the start of the second half and reestablished that two-goal cushion, it would have been a quite different scenario. We had big plans, but they didn't work out. It was a very, very bitter evening for us.

Question: For you personally as well - you had to come off at half time.

Götze: That was due to an injury. I've got a muscle problem in my right thigh.

Question: Of their six games in the Champions League, Dortmund were only able to win one. Why was that, do you think- could it be that the team are still a bit inexperienced?

Götze: I don't think you can put these results down to a lack of experience. It may be that we just messed up in a few key situations, making unnecessary mistakes. And then there were the chances we had and didn't always put away, myself included.

Question: Marseille put on a bit of a demonstration of effective football.

Götze: That speaks for Marseille's quality as well. All respect to you when you can turn three or four chances into three goals. That's sometimes going to allow you to win a game like this 3-2.