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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

BVB trainer to stay on despite growing crisis

Jürgen Klopp insisted Sunday he will not quit as Borussia Dortmund coach despite his team suffering their eighth league defeat of the season to remain bottom of the Bundesliga.

BVB trainer to stay on despite growing crisis
Photo: DPA

Dortmund crashed 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt as Klopp's men continued to frustrate fans who have seen the team, in stark contrast, ease into the Champions League last 16.

Last season's runners-up are suffering their worst ever start to a German league season and the 2013 Champions League finalists are the only team in Germany's top flight to have lost eight of their 13 matches.

In the standings, they face possible ejection from the Bundesliga.

But when asked if he has thoughts of walking away, Klopp insisted he will stay, despite his side being whistled and booed after the final whistle.

"I can understand journalists have such thoughts, but things aren't heading that way, I am responsible for what is going on here," a visibly dejected Klopp, who is under contract until 2018, told Sky.

"If it was only a question of luck and a change of coach would make a difference, you only have to call me and I won't stand in the way. But as long as no-one comes to me and says 'we have someone who can do better', I simply can't leave.

"I am not standing in the way, but I simply can't go until there is a better solution. The responsibility is too big."

Having steered Dortmund to back-to-back German league titles in 2011 and 2012, including the club's first league and cup double, Klopp is facing the biggest test of his six-year reign.

Frankfurt captain Alexander Meier claimed his eighth goal of the season to become the league's top scorer when he fired home with five minutes gone after teammate Marco Russ split the Dortmund defence with a long-range pass.

Then a poorly mistimed header back from defender Matthias Ginter on 78 minutes compounded Dortmund's problems as it allowed Swiss striker Haris Seferovic to beat Borussia goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller in a sprint to tap the ball home.

Dortmund had already dropped back to the bottom of the table on Saturday after both Werder Bremen and Stuttgart picked up wins.

Werder Bremen's 4-0 hammering of Paderborn and VfB Stuttgart's 4-1 win at Freiburg on Friday saw them both leapfrog Dortmund.

The team, which is a publicly traded entity, has also seen its shares drop by 5.5 percent in the last month since finding itself at the bottom of the league for the first time in 29 years. 

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FOOTBALL

Beer sherpa: Dortmund fans offer free tickets ‘forever’ in return for beer-carrying duties

A group of Dortmund fans have advertised online for a ‘beer sherpa’ to bring them fresh beers while they watch from the club’s famous Yellow Wall. The successful applicant will receive free tickets to every match in return.

Beer sherpa: Dortmund fans offer free tickets 'forever' in return for beer-carrying duties
Photo: DPA

Getting another round of beers while keeping an eye on the action at Germany’s biggest football stadium can be tough. The remedy? A professional ‘beer sherpa’ to ensure you never run dry. 

READ ALSO: Bundesliga: Your complete guide to becoming a football fan in Germany

A group of fans from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund fans advertised the position of a professional beer carrier at the stadium’s famous southern stand (Südtribune). 

“You always wanted to watch Dortmund but you never get a ticket? No problem! We’ll get you a ticket for every game – forever!”

The sherpa is required to head to the bar “four or five times a game” to bring a new round, at the expense of the fans of course.

Each round should consist of eight beers, otherwise known as a “man’s purse” – as the cardboard trays used to carry beer are known. 

'Everything you've always dreamed of'

Besides a highly sought-after ticket to every game – the Westfalenstadion is the biggest constantly sold out stadium in Europe – the successful applicant will also have beers paid for, as well as the opportunity to engage in some serious-level football fandom. 

“You can watch the game with us from the south stand, you can cheer on Borussia, you can listen to our substantive discussions, you can throw one back with us. Everything you want and you've always dreamed of. “

The ad was originally posted on eBay classifieds in Germany on Monday and has unsurprisingly attracted overwhelming attention. 

READ ALSO: Sweet 16: How Germany's Bundesliga wants to lower minimum age requirements

Writing on eBay, the football fans said they needed to develop an effective and fair vetting process to ensure the best candidate won. 

“You are insane!” they said. 

“There have been so many fans who would like to have a beer in the stadium with us that we now have to sit down with a round of pilsettes (beers) and figure out how we can work through the whole process fairly, transparently and smoothly.”

For anyone who is interested, the position is still open – although any budding beer sherpas will have to be quick. 

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