Marco Rose 'taking care' as Dortmund encounter crucial period | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose admitted that he engaged in squad management during Saturday’s home win over Mainz.

Marco Reus gave BVB the lead in the third minute with a tremendous left-footed half-volley before the returning Erling Haaland doubled their advantage from the penalty spot early in the second half.

Jonathan Burkardt gave Mainz hope of late comeback, but his goal proved a mere consolation as Haaland struck his second in stoppage time at Signal Iduna Park.

It was Dortmund’s first game of a hectic schedule that will see Die Schwarzgelben play seven times in just 22 days.

And manager Rose confirmed that factored into his selection and substitution policy.

“The next few weeks will be really challenging. We have to be careful,” Rose said, per the BVB websiet.

“Ajax, Bundesliga, Cup, Bundesliga, Ajax again, Bundesliga. That’s a lot of games, and we need every one of our players.

“That’s why we sent Emre [Can] out there today, because on the one hand we are convinced of his quality and on the other he needs to get back into the rhythm of playing again.

“We took Mats [Hummels] off a bit early today because we want to take the strain off his knee a bit. Our captain has played a lot of games. That’s why we also took Marco Reus off a little earlier.”

The win saw Dortmund go top of the Bundesliga table, but Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen could move to the summit depending on if there’s a winner of their clash on Sunday.