Borussia Dortmund captain Marcel Schmelzer has called for a response from his side after their Europa League exit.
Dortmund crashed out of Europe on Thursday as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Red Bull Salzburg, having lost the first leg 2-1.
Schmelzer feels BVB were guilty of underestimating the Austrian side and he wants his side to bounce back by qualifying for the Champions League this season.
“Our mentality couldn’t have been at 100 percent in either game,” Schmelzer told reporters.
“Talking about the title was maybe the problem. You have to take every match and every round seriously. This is something I cannot comprehend.
“If you talk about the big thing first instead is taking it step by step, this is exactly the result. This is why we now have to admit that we deservedly were knocked out.”
He added: “The only thing that counts now is that we have to show [our best] in the remainder of the Bundesliga.
There are no excuses now that we have to play every three days. We can now have a whole week to prepare for the games like everyone else.
“Again, there are no excuses now. We have to play with all our effort now because I – and I hope other team-mates feel the same – want to play Champions League next year.”
BVB are currently third in the Bundesliga and they hold a three-point lead over Eintracht Frankfurt in fifth spot ahead of the visit of Hannover on Sunday.
Dortmund are 1.44 to secure a win on Sunday or 1.95 with a -1 handicap.
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