The Daily Bee (February 23rd, 2021): Borussia Dortmund Fined for Not Wearing Masks

Good Morning, Fear the Wall!

Everyone was very excitable after Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 victory over Schalke, as evidenced by the celebrations in the stadium and in the streets when the team bus returned to the city. However, in all the excitement, it was noticed that none of the BVB players had their masks on. As a result, Borussia Dortmund are being fined €75,000 for their lax efforts.

It’s easy to scoff at the punishment, and that was certainly my initial reaction, but I suppose it’s important that public figures are seen to be following the restrictions, because this will encourage everyone else to do the same. Hopefully the news will remind everyone (teams and fans) to stay vigilant!

Hazard, Burki, & Zagadou Back in Training

Everyone is struggling with injuries lately, BVB included, but there has been some good news on that front for Borussia Dortmund. While they recently lost Akanji to a muscle tear, they may soon have Thorgan Hazard, Roman Burki, and Dan Axel-Zagadou at their disposal once again.

All three are back in training, and could be back on the pitch very soon. While there has been plenty of talk about how much BVB have missed Hazard, I think they have missed all three players while they’ve been out injured. If Dortmund could keep the majority of the squad fit for the rest of the season, that would make a world of difference.

Dortmund Pursuing Center Backs

According to Sky Germany’s Max Bielefeld, Borussia Dortmund are interested in PSG’s Soumaila Coulibaly and Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic.

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• Soumaila Coulibaly Sky Germany
• Nikola Milenkovic Sky Germany

He claims that BVB have already agreed personal terms with 17 year old Coulibaly, though he suffered an ACL injury last week, throwing a spanner in the works. No agreement is in place between the clubs, so this might just be one of those rumors that fizzles out, but it’s interesting nonetheless. BVB clearly need some reinforcements at center back, but given Coulibaly’s age and recent injury, he probably isn’t going to be the guy to fill in just yet.

That could be where Nikola Milenkovic comes in. The 23 year old Fiorentina center back would be a quality addition to the Borussia Dortmund squad, and would be able to make an immediate impact. However, it seems like BVB would be competing with Liverpool and Manchester United for his signature.

The Daily Buzz

Are you interested in Coulibaly and Milenkovic? What positions do you think should be a priority for Borussia Dortmund this summer?