The news comes shortly before Dortmund’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at Barcelona and with Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich up next in the Bundesliga this weekend. The injury was originally expected to keep him out until the end of the season, but it has now been confirmed that Schlotterbeck will be spending considerably longer on the sidelines.
“Nico’s absence is a hammer blow,” said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl. “He is a very important part of our team and has impressed with consistently good performances this season. We hope that he will be fit again quickly. [He] will receive maximum support from us on his road to recovery.”
Kehl provided an update on Tuesday, saying: “It was truly a shock for us. The operation that was performed last night means he’ll be out for several months, about half a year. That’s the current prognosis. But one thing is clear: Nico will have our full support. He’s a really important player for us.
