Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has warned the club's players they could face consequences for a poor start to the season, and has demanded "blood, sweat and tears" to turn the situation around.
Dortmund blew a two-goal half-time lead to draw 2-2 at promoted Paderborn on Saturday, dropping into the relegation zone with only 11 points from 12 games.
The 2013 Champions League finalists face an uphill task in their remaining 22 Bundesliga games to return to Europe in the 2015-2016 season.
In contrast, BVB have already qualified from the Champions League knockout stages and only need one more point from their remaining two matches at Arsenal and against Anderlecht to win Group D.
The discrepancy between Bundesliga and Champions League results, as well as last weekend's draw, has led Watzke to warn the BVB stars during the annual stockholders' meeting on Monday.
"We need to throw everything into the upcoming weeks, and do what is needed when at the bottom of the standings. Blood, sweat and tears are our way now," Watzke said, and added that whoever "is of the opinion that administering football is enough is not at the right place" in Dortmund.
Elsewhere, Germany international Marco Reus has accepted the apology of his former teammate Marvin Bakalorz after the Paderborn midfielder's challenge resulted in an ankle ligament tear which will keep the BVB star out until January.
Watzke believes "better protection [is needed] for such outstanding players," but Bakalorz -- a Dortmund player from 2010 to 2013 -- told Westfalen-Blatt: "Reus reacted cool, and was delighted that I got in touch with him. He replied that he knows that I did not do it on purpose."