Dortmund defeat frustrates Zorc

Share Borussia Dortmund's director of sport Michael Zorc spoke of his frustration after another disappointing European night for the German champions, who he feels lack maturity at that level. The Westphalians struggled in the UEFA Europa League last season, going out at the group stage, and they are on course for a similar situation in the UEFA Champions League this year after losing 3-1 at Olympiacos in Athens last night.

That result left Dortmund bottom of Group F with just one point from three games, with Arsenal leading the way on seven points, one ahead of second-placed Marseille. Zorc believes a lack of experience is part of the problem, telling Sky television: "Of course we are lacking a bit of maturity at this level.

"We marched through the Bundesliga last year and intentionally refrained from signing some expensive experienced player (in the summer). However, we thought that we would mature a lot quicker than we are. It was a frustrating night for us."

The frustration was not only reserved to the pitch with many Dortmund officials not even venturing to the stadium as the public unrest and mass protests in Athens made them prisoners in their own hotel. Dortmund's general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke questioned whether the game should have been allowed to go ahead at all. "Many colleagues and sponsors were right in the middle of the war zone," he told Sky television.

"It was dramatic. They were extremely scared. The hotel told them that they could only go to the bottom two floors of the hotel with a gas mask on because tear gas was streaming inside through the windows. They were truly scared and some of them did not come to the stadium because they just did not want to venture out. Maybe more consideration should have been given (to whether the game should have been played)."

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