Dortmund Awaiting Schlotterbeck's Return to Defense
Borussia Dortmund’s new season has begun without the man who usually holds their back line together. Nico Schlotterbeck, the defensive leader of this side, has missed the entire pre-season and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup as he battles his way back from an ankle injury.
He has not played a competitive minute since 20 June, when he went down in Germany’s second group game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Ivory Coast. His tournament ended that night. Dortmund’s planning for 2026/27 changed with it.
Speaking to Sky, the 26-year-old summed up his situation with a wry smile: “It’s basically a long, drawn‑out story.” At the World Cup, he tried to grit his teeth and carry on. “It wasn’t easy at the World Cup. At first, I thought it wasn’t that bad and kept playing,” he said. The ankle thought otherwise.
A slow road back
Since returning from international duty, Schlotterbeck has thrown himself into rehab. While the squad reconvened in mid-July, he was working separately, step by step, to get that ankle right.
Inside the club, there was quiet hope he might be back around the first international break in September and October – either just before it or shortly after. One thing was clear early on: he would not be involved in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup showdown with Bayern Munich.
The optimism remains, but Schlotterbeck refuses to circle a date on the calendar.
“We have to take it day by day. We’re trying to let it heal properly and do good work with the physios and the rehab coaches. Then I believe it won’t take much longer,” he explained. No bold promises, no rush. Just the grind.
Leadership from the sidelines
Inside the training ground, his presence is still felt. Dortmund sporting director Ole Book highlighted how both Schlotterbeck and injured captain Emre Can have handled their lay-offs.
“I see both of them fully motivated every day. During their rehab, they both contribute enormously as leaders – to the team, to the togetherness, to the group. But how long it will take exactly, nobody can say – and certainly not me,” Book said earlier in the summer.
For a club that leans heavily on Schlotterbeck’s left-footed passing and authority at the back, the wait goes on. The defender is pushing, the medical team is cautious, and Dortmund’s season is already asking the obvious question: how long can they hold the line without their rock?
