The Bayern Munich forward has revealed that Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus remain mystified by their shocking results during the first half of the 2014-15 campaign
Mario Gotze says his former Borussia Dortmund colleagues have no explanation for the disastrous start to the season that saw them enter the winter break in the Bundesliga’s relegation zone.
BVB, who haven’t finished outside the top two in the last four seasons, managed just four wins from their first eleven games but have improved dramatically since the turn of the year and now sit 10th in the table.
However, Bayern forward Gotze, who swapped Signal Iduna Park for the Allianz Arena in 2013, says his former team-mates remain completely baffled by their shocking start.
“I was totally surprised. Especially in the first [half of the season],” Gotze told Ruhr Nachrichten.
“There was nobody who expected BVB would suddenly appear that far down the table.
“I have been in contact with Ilkay [Gundogan] and Marco [Reus]. I’ve also seen [Dortmund players] when with the national team. They could not explain it to themselves, especially since they had played so well in the Champions League.”
Gotze, 22, broke Dortmund hearts two years ago when it emerged that he had agreed to join Bayern after the Bavarians met his €37 million buy-out clause.
On Saturday, he returns to Signal-Iduna Park once again and is likely to get another hostile reception. However, the Germany international says that the jeers and boos no longer have an affect on him.
“It really doesn’t [annoy me] even little,” the World Cup winner added. “I just have to deal with it. I have already had it a few times. The first time it was something else, because it was unusual.
“But now there is no longer a problem, although I would of course like the situation to be different.”
Bayern go into Saturday’s Bundesliga meeting with Dortmund top of the table, a staggering 31 points ahead of their great rivals.