As is the case in most of the previous seasons, Borussia Dortmund’s issues first started in the summer. Manager Thomas Tuchel was let go three days after he won the DFB Pokal. His dismissal was no surprise as disagreements between him and the BVB board were apparent throughout the season. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the team had to start from square one again. Peter Bosz was named as Tuchel’s successor. At the time many people agreed that it was a shrewd appointment. Bosz just helped a young Ajax side to the Europa League final by playing the sort of exciting football that Dortmund wants. But the manager had to start work without Ousmane Dembele, a talented winger who was arguably Dortmund’s best player in 2016/17. The French youngster left for Barcelona after going AWOL and refusing to train.
Despite a loss in the Super Cup to Bayern, Bosz’s start to the league Campaign was more than any BVB fan could have hoped for. The team started off with a 3-0 win against Wolfsburg which was followed by a 2-0 triumph against Hertha Berlin. Despite having to settle for a 0-0 draw against a resilient Freiburg side, the Black and Yellows bounced back with comprehensive wins against Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bosz’s side was top of the league, five points ahead of Bayern. The first sign of trouble, however, started in the Champions League. BVB lost 3-1 to Spurs at Wembley. Previous doubts about Bosz’s ability to stop bigger oppositions resurfaced. The team lost games against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. Even worse they were not able to win a single league game starting from the end of September until Bosz’s sacking.
The defensive high-line Bosz implemented was costing the side. Often caught out of position and unable to quell counterattacks, as a result, the team gave away cheap goals. Bosz’s reluctance to use new signing Mo Dahoud was also puzzling. The young midfielder, although a bit raw, could’ve provided a creative spark in the middle of the park. The preffered option was Gonzalo Castro, who was the epitome of the team’s poor performance. Perhaps the manager’s big mistake was not being able to properly utilize Julian Weigl. The 22-year-old was such an integral part of BVB’s midfield in the previous two seasons. He provided cover for the back four and dictated the play. He also launched the attack with his measured passes. Bosz played him further up the pitch which meant that the young German wasn’t able to do what he does best.
The mood in Dortmund quickly changed. The optimism and hope of the early part of the season turned into despair. BVB crashed out of the Champions League group stage with only 2 points and barely making it into the Europa League. They were also out of the Bundesliga title race, with 13 points adrift of Bayern. That was the final straw for the manager. Following Bosz was another Peter, former Cologne manager Stoger. The Austrian managed to quickly restore stability to the squad. His side won the two league games he was in charge of, by beating Mainz and Hoffenheim. BVB lost 2-1 to Bayern in the DFB Pokal, but the atmosphere around the club was significantly better.
But another transfer window brought in another problem. This time it was striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who grabbed the headlines. After being linked to moves to China and Arsenal, the Gabonese striker missed a team meeting before the game against Wolfsburg. That led to him being dropped out of the squad. BVB drew 0-0 and missed their star striker in that game. He also wasn’t involved in the game against Hertha, another draw for Dortmund.
It is an all too familiar sight for BVB. Players leaving and injuries piling up has always been a cause for poor performances on the pitch. But the season is not lost. The Europa League offers an opportunity to salvage the season. It certainly won’t be easy but with star man, Marco Reus returning from injury BVB can fancy their chances of lifting a trophy that has eluded them two seasons ago. A Champions League qualification finish has always been the priority and that will suffice as long as the league is concerned.
Tacticomotion 