'It won't take much longer' - Nico Schlotterbeck breaks silence on recovery from World Cup ankle injury

Schlotterbeck has not featured competitively since suffering an ankle problem in Germany's World Cup clash with Ivory Coast on June 20. The setback kept him out of pre-season and saw him miss Dortmund's 2-1 Supercup loss to Bayern Munich last weekend. The club originally targeted a comeback around the September or October international fixtures, but the 26-year-old remains on a gradual road to full fitness.

Speaking in an interview with Sky, the 26-year-old opened up on the origins of the problem and the steady progress of his rehabilitation. Reflecting on the injury sustained at the tournament and the ongoing recovery process, Schlotterbeck said: "It's basically a long, drawn-out story. It wasn't easy at the World Cup. At first, I thought it wasn't that bad and kept playing. We have to take it day by day. We're trying to let it heal properly and do good work with the physios and the rehab coaches. Then I believe it won't take much longer."

The defensive leader's continued absence represents a major blow for Dortmund, who have also had to contend with club captain Emre Can remaining in the treatment room throughout the summer.

Commending the dedication of both senior figures during their recovery periods, Dortmund sporting director Ole Book explained: "I see both of them fully motivated every day. During their rehab, they both contribute enormously as leaders - to the team, to the togetherness, to the group. But how long it will take exactly, nobody can say - and certainly not me."

Dortmund will begin their 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign without Schlotterbeck when they welcome Hamburg to Signal Iduna Park on August 29. The medical department will continue to monitor the defender's ankle before clearing him for full first-team training. His eventual return will provide crucial defensive stability once the fixture schedule ramps up across domestic and European competitions following the international break.