If there was one man Borussia Dortmund didn’t want to see miss the return leg against Chelsea in the Champions League, it was Gregor Kobel.
There’s no denying the goalkeeper has been a great addition to the Bundesliga side since his transfer from VfB Stuttgart, which even led to rumours of a potential switch to the Premier League.
Before any of that happens, however, he will have wanted to help Dortmund go as far as possible in the Champions League, with the next step being to see off Chelsea after winning the first leg in Germany 1-0.
However, he will not be able to help, as a report from Sport 1 in Germany, who took to Twitter to relay the news, explains that the Switzerland international has dropped out ‘for the decisive second leg’ in Chelsea.
🚨 @SPORT1-Info: #BVB-Keeper Gregor Kobel fällt für das entscheidende Rückspiel gleich in Chelsea aus. Risiko zu hoch. Der Schweizer soll aber auf der Bank sitzen. Alexander Meyer startet. ⚫️🟡@berger_pj
— SPORT1 (@SPORT1) March 7, 2023
The belief is that the risk of playing him is ‘too high’, and he should ‘sit on the bench’, with Alexander Meyer set to start in his stead.
The 25-year-old was on the bench against Leipzig at the weekend because of muscular issues, but was hoping to make it back in time for the Chelsea game.
Alas, it wasn’t to be.
