DORTMUND, Germany -- Borussia Dortmund captain Marcel Schmelzer has urged fans to raise the level of support for the team.
There was an unusual atmosphere at the Westfalenstadion for Saturday's 3-0 win over Wolfsburg, as the south stand -- Europe's largest standing terrace -- was empty due to a partial closure issued by the German FA (DFB) as the result of fans' misbehaviour.
Schmelzer hinted that he was dissatisfied with the level of support in the first half, telling reporters after the game: "Without a question, it was a weird feeling today, but I have to pay a huge compliment to the entire stadium for the second half.
"That is the atmosphere that makes the Dortmund stadium so special -- the positive atmosphere and energy that is passed down from the fans.
"In the name of the team, I want to express the wish that it will be like that more often in the future -- ideally, right from the beginning, as you could see [in the second half] that the support helps the team, as it gives us a big push. If we can have that more often again, then it'll be even tougher for our opponents to beat us at home.
"Maybe people do not realise that we sense these kinds of things down on the field. Again, a big compliment for the atmosphere in the second half, but I'm hoping that it would also be like that when the scoreline isn't 3-0 already but also when it is still goalless or just 1-0.
"This young team especially needs the support when things don't go our way -- even though I can understand that people come here for the spectacle."
The left-back also praised teammate Lukasz Piszczek, who set a personal record by scoring his fifth league goal of the ongoing season, while directly contributing to the other two.
"He is the second best goal scorer of the team now," Schmelzer said. "Piszczek is a big weapon for us -- especially with dead-ball situations in attack. He is very clever at positioning himself for second balls. I'm elated for him that he is so successful up front this season -- not least because he is part of my fantasy team!
"It was a great Saturday afternoon for us, as we got a deserved win while the other results also went in our favour."
Dortmund reclaimed third place in the table with the win, leapfrogging Eintracht Frankfurt, who suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Ingolstadt.