Even the appointment of new interim head coach Edin Terzic a few weeks ago has not been able to help the club navigate a steady course and stem its inconsistency this season.
With this season’s Bundesliga title looking quite out of reach, the Black and Yellows are also at peril of missing out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Upcoming duels against rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach this Tuesday and Saturday, respectively, appear to be the last chances to turn their situation around.
Although the results attained have been satisfying against leading teams, the 2012 Bundesliga champions have been misfiring when it comes to facing underdog sides as their continual struggle against weaker teams in the national league remaining the club’s biggest setback.
“We often had the chance to gain ground and make it to position 3, 2, or 1. We always seem to fail as there is always missing something,” complained full-back Thomas Meunier.
A good case in point would be the confident 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig followed by a setback like the disappointing 1-1 draw against FSV Mainz.
Dortmund’s problems are definitely a conundrum with captain Marco Reus stressing that the team must learn to play like a top side across 90 minutes, with the German international elaborating on a “good first half against Mainz” followed by “us giving up stability and getting lost as our game went out of control”.
Team leader Mats Hummels talked about the necessity “to play adult football”.
Both Reus and Hummels placed emphasis on a balance of courageous attacks and patience.
“Keep positions, make the opponents run, and wait for the right time for an efficient strike,” Reus recommended.
Newly-appointed interim coach Terzic said his main task is to get things together, cultivate patience and focus on attacks.
Borussia was dissatisfied with their former coach Lucien Favre and his reluctant tactical approach, but till now the team has yet to control its desire to push ahead.
Although fans endorse the club’s courage to sign gifted talents like youngsters Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, doubts still persist as to whether the team’s composition can lead to success.
The squad is seemingly happy with Terzic’s new riskier tactical approach but the team still needs some essential fine-tuning with experienced players such as Reus, Hummels, Axel Witsel and Emre Can in need of some time to get things together.
A title might not be a realistic goal this season, but qualifying for the Champions League looks to be vital in order to retain players like Haaland and Sancho, especially with regards to the former as rumors about Premier League side Chelsea preparing an offer of over 100 million euros for the Norwegian striker are already a loud warning shot for Dortmund’s bosses to take heed of.
Regardless of the club’s top hierarchy repeatedly emphatic about the forward being happy to stay back with his contract running until 2024, and its exit clause not valid before 2022, a young and brilliant striker like the Norwegian with the continent’s elite clubs gearing up in hot pursuit of his talents would surely have his sights set on winning top silverware.
If the team continues its current bumpy journey, Haaland could well be heading for new shores shortly.