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Dortmund CEO backs boss Peter Bosz despite derby meltdown vs. Schalke

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim Watzke has backed head coach Peter Bosz despite seeing his side lose a 4-0 lead against local rivals Schalke.

Dortmund, who have not won a Bundesliga match since late September, were four ahead at the break but completely collapsed in the second half as Schalke salvaged a stunning point.

A day after Guido Burgstaller, Amine Harit, Daniel Caliguri and Naldo had produced one of the biggest comebacks in Bundesliga history, Bosz attended the BVB annual general meeting.

After the team had been greeted with a mixture of whistles and applause, Watzke told Bosz: "I have the clear expectation, dear Peter, that you and your staff will leave no stone unturned and put everything to the test."

He also said Champions League qualification "is paramount."

Dortmund have had a difficult 2017. In April, their team bus was attacked prior to a Champions League match and, the following month, they parted company with coach Thomas Tuchel despite winning the DFB Pokal -- their first trophy in five years.

Key player Ousmane Dembele moved to Barcelona in the summer and, earlier this month, chief scout Sven Mislintat joined Arsenal as their new head of recruitment.

Mislintat had previously cited a falling out with Tuchel, which saw him banished from the training ground, as the main reason to consider leaving.

And Watzke said: "It was my mistake that a deserving employee was treated like that for a year-and-a-half. And I stand by that."

Meanwhile, Schalke revelled in their comeback, with midfielder Leon Goretzka praising coach Domenico Tedesco for remaining calm even at 4-0 down.

"We must pay our coach a giant compliment," he said, while keeper Ralf Fahrmann called Tedesco's half-time team talk "God-given."

Tedesco, 32, joined Schalke from second-tier club Erzgebirge Aue in the summer.