Borussia’s U19s will host Newcastle United on Matchday 4 of the UEFA Youth League (Tuesday, 14:00 CET in Brackel, live on BVB TV). “We almost have to win this game in order to have qualification in our own hands on the last matchday against Paris Saint-Germain,” said head coach Mike Tullberg.

BVB are in a good but complicated position going into the game. AC Milan currently lead Group F with six points and a goal difference of +4, followed by Borussia Dortmund (goal difference: +1) and Paris Saint-Germain (+1), but all three sides have the same points. Newcastle are still waiting for their first points of the campaign. The final standings in the group may ultimately be determined based on head-to-head records. 

“The fact that we already have six points in this group of death and after two away games was not expected. Our young team have exceeded expectations so far,” said Tullberg, paying the team the utmost respect. Now, he said, the task was to back up the performances from the first three games, starting with the game against Newcastle. “Without the injured Filippo Mane, it will be difficult,” warned Tullberg, who called for a similarly focused and courageous performance as the BVB youngsters put in 14 days ago: “We were able to defend against the offensive pressing of physically strong opposition for extended periods, and played fabulous football, especially in the first half. But as soon as we were no longer active and let them have the ball, we got into trouble. We should avoid that if possible on Tuesday. Newcastle are a hard-working team that always believe in themselves.”

Defeat in the Bundesliga

Tullberg and his young charges spent some 90 minutes analysing their first Bundesliga defeat in almost exactly four years, the 3-1 loss at MSV Duisburg last Saturday. “It was about the manner of the defeat. I had already said before the game that we could lose against any opponent if we only put in 90 percent or 95 percent and we lack the willingness to defend our own goal together. A solid defence has always been what makes us stand out. We were far away from that in Duisburg,” said Tullberg in summary. 

“We need to learn from the game in Duisburg and improve,” stressed Mike Tullberg, who can call on Hendry Blank from the U23s to stabilise the defence in the UEFA Youth League, and the BVB coach is welcoming him with open arms after the loss of Filippo Mane: “Hendry is a huge reinforcement for us.” At the other end, he is hoping to see the same pace and dynamism from Samuel Bamba up front that he showed in the reverse fixture. 

Five players to play at the U17 World Cup

Following the match against Newcastle, Robin Lisewski, Nico Adamczyk, Almugera Kabar, Charles Herrmann and Paris Brunner will be heading to Indonesia for the U17 World Cup and will not be available to BVB for the match at AC Milan on 28 November. “That’s another reason why it’s important to win against Newcastle,” stressed Tullberg, who is hoping to get strong support from the fans again: “The lads have done very well so far and deserve to play in a great atmosphere.” (WiWi)

If you want to be there for the Youth League game, you can find all the information here.