Ricken confirms Tullberg will remain in charge against Shakhtar

Interim coach Mike Tullberg will stay in charge for Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, club boss Lars Ricken has confirmed.

Following the sacking of Nuri Sahin as Borussia Dortmund boss, U19 coach Mike Tullberg was put in charge of the team for Saturday’s Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen.

Dortmund went 2-0 up despite Nico Schlotterbeck’s early dismissal, and although they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 draw, managing director for sport Lars Ricken was full of praise for Tullberg.

He also confirmed that the 39-year-old Dane will be in the dugout again when Dortmund take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“He’ll also be sitting on the bench on Wednesday, that was clear beforehand. But I told him: ‘The Bremen game, that’s what it’s all about.’ Because I wanted Mike Tullberg 100 percent and that’s what I got. That’s what we all got,” said Ricken, according to Kicker.

Ricken added that there is no rush to appoint a new permanent replacement for Sahin.

“We are taking the time we need. I think we are in an excellent position at the moment with Mike because he can get through to the players,” explained the Dortmund boss.

Tullberg himself expressed his delight at the confidence shown in him, but insisted that it’s not about personal success for him.

“It’s always about helping the club. In the first few years it was about developing players and winning games, but now it’s about winning games and stabilizing the team,” the 39-year-old explained.