Bundesliga: Bellingham, Dortmund face Schalke after Champions League loss to Chelsea

With Dortmund joint top in the Bundesliga on 49 points with Bayern Munich, but in second place on goal difference, coach Terzic said there was no time to bewail the defeat to Chelsea for too long.

Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 loss to Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in London, England.

Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic gave his players a night to digest their Champions League Round of 16 exit to Chelsea on Tuesday before picking themselves up for their Ruhr valley derby against bitter rival Schalke 04 on Saturday.

Dortmund, which was on a 10-game winning run in all competitions in 2023 prior to Tuesday, lost 2-0 at Chelsea and was eliminated. It won 1-0 win in Germany in the first leg.

With the club joint top in the Bundesliga on 49 points with Bayern Munich, but in second place on goal difference, Terzic said there was no time to bewail the defeat to Chelsea for too long.

“We know we were in a good form (coming to Chelsea). But confidence and good form won’t be enough,” Terzic told reporters.

“Our season started in July and we said we want a good run in all three competitions. We dropped out of the Champions League against Chelsea. It is not something you have to feel ashamed for.”

Apart from its fine Bundesliga run where it hunts its first league crown in 11 years, Dortmund is also through to the German Cup last eight where it faces RB Leipzig in April.

“But don’t get me wrong. Tonight we are really disappointed,” Terzic said. “But tomorrow morning we are going to stand up, recover and go for the next one. It is a big derby for us on Saturday.”

Few Dortmund fans would remember the Chelsea exit if there was silverware at the end of the season for their club, even fewer would if that included victory at local rival Schalke on Saturday.

The Royal Blues are back after a season in the second division and after a disappointing start, they have turned their season around in recent weeks.

Schalke is unbeaten in its last six league matches, having won the last two, and has climbed off last place to 19 points and into 17th place, level on points with Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart in 16th and 15th respectively.

It has also conceded just one goal in the six matches.

“At the end of May we will see what we deserve,” Terzic said. “This is what we want to do. We don’t want anything for granted but we will see at the end of May.”