Reus dismisses Dortmund player coup attempt against Terzic

Former team captain Marco Reus has strongly dismissed reports that Borussia Dortmund player rebelled against coach Edin Terzic and that he was a ring leader in it, reported dpa.

Reports in December suggested that Reus and other players had complained about the work of Terzic to CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke after a series of poor results and demanded consequences.

But Reus told broadcasters Sport1 at their winter break training camp in Spain: "There was no attempted coup. Neither from me nor from other players. It was hard to read that."

"I've experienced a lot in my career and I'm not really the type to let negative headlines get to me. But this claim made me angry. For me, a line has been crossed and that's why I don't want to leave it like that," he added in reference to the ring leader claims.

Reus insisted he had no problems with Terzic, naming the claims "complete bullshit," saying he has "a very close and good relationship" with the coach" and that "we often speak openly with each other."

Terzic was backed by club leaders in December but got two new assistants in former Dortmund players Nuri Sahin and Sven Bender, a decision Reus welcomed.

"Nuri and Sven have quickly found their feet in the team, bring a breath of fresh air and can also help to sharpen our senses again," he said.

"We don't have a lot of time before things resume in Darmstadt. That's why we have to get to work now. But I have the feeling that we're in a good position."

Dortmund restart at bottom club Darmstadt from the winter break. The have won only one of their last eight league matches and in fifth are six points off the top four and 15 behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

"Our first goal now has to be to concede fewer goals and score more again in order to win our games. We're working very hard on that here at the training camp," he said.