believe his team changes were to blame for the draw at
Hoffenheim.
Thomas Tuchel defended his squad rotation policy after
Borussia Dortmund's 100 per cent start to the season was
halted by the midweek draw at Hoffenheim.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ilkay Gundogan were left out of the
starting line-up for Wednesday's game and watched as a
hopelessly disjointed Dortmund struggled through the first half
before grabbing a point thanks to Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's
55th-minute equaliser.
Although it meant their winning streak ended at 12 games in all
competitions, the former Mainz coach was not downbeat ahead
of Sunday's home clash with Darmstadt.
"It was a good sign we were annoyed [about the draw], but we
must not feel like losers, instead we have to find a good
balance," said Tuchel, who defended his decision to rest two of
his senior men for the trip to the Rhein-Neckar Arena.
"There is no other way – even if it sometimes takes time for it
to work. The problems in Hoffenheim were not because of the
team I picked.”
Despite his goal, Aubameyang is not yet at full fitness,
according to Tuchel, who added: "His red light is not turned on
yet. We often have to substitute him in the 70th minute. [But] he
will definitely play on Sunday.”
Adnan Januzaj, on loan from Manchester United, could also
start against the Bundesliga newcomers, but central defender
Neven Subotic misses out through injury. Left-back Marcel
Schmelzer will be assessed after training on Saturday.
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