Borussia Dortmund is going into the new season as one of the winners of the transfer phase and Bayern’s number one hunter. Due to the well-known reinforcements, healthy competition is assured. But one thing is clear: some stars are threatened by the bank. In which positions is it already crackling?
After the successful test against third division team Verl (5:0), BVB will go to the training camp in Bad Ragaz on Friday. Also in the luggage: the various national players who were still able to enjoy their holidays up until now.
“The squad is much fuller, from now on it’s all about the places. Everyone wants to play – such a competitive situation is good for us,” said Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl in advance.
At the moment there are only a few names that are sure to be in the starting XI against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga opener on August 6: Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, midfielder Jude Bellingham or the new center forward Sébastien Haller probably don’t have to worry about their appearance . Others no longer play a role in coach Edin Terzic’s plans. A look at the struggles in the new BVB squad:
Defense: back three or four?
Under Edin Terzic, the back four was set in his first term. The situation is different with the new signings Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck, because the two internationals have the right to be set in central defence. But what about Mats Hummels, who was chief of the shaky defense last season?
If Terzic continues to rely on a back four, Hummels could become a hardship. If you take the duel values of the trio as a basis, that would be justified: the ex-Freiburger took first place in the previous season with 69 percent of duels won, Süle ended up in third place with 68 percent. Hummels only won 63 percent of duels.
A back three would help the 33-year-old veteran: Then three trained and experienced central defenders would be in the center and the full-backs would have more freedom up front.
External defence: Missing options – or is David space coming?
The biggest remaining weaknesses in the BVB squad are probably the defensive outside positions. Raphael Guerreiro has been on the left for years, but in the recent past he has shown too much trouble moving backwards. The now 28-year-old is anything but undisputed at the moment, but virtually unrivaled.
Because: Nico Schulz probably no longer plays a role in the plans for the coming season, even though he traveled to the training camp with his colleagues. Marius Wolf could definitely play the position at the back left as a backup. The 18-year-old newcomer Prince Aning from Ajax Amsterdam, who was “really fun” for coach Terzic, also surprised in the preparation.
A transfer of what is probably the best German left-back at the moment, David Raum from TSG Hoffenheim, would completely change the competitive situation. Due to the high transfer fee and other, financially strong, interested parties, it is not unlikely that there will only be a flirt between BVB and Raum.
On the right side of defence, Thomas Meunier, who is also not without controversy, faces competition from Mateu Morey, who will attack in the training camp after a long-term cruciate ligament injury. The Spaniard was a regular in Terzic’s first term and had his best time at BVB. Wolf is also an alternative on the right, who proved his flexibility in many positions in the previous season. In addition, Felix Passlack is (still) under contract with BVB.
Defensive midfield: who will play alongside Jude Bellingham?
At the end of June, Jude Bellingham celebrated his 19th birthday. The England international’s development continues to be impressive – with a market value of €80m he is a Bundesliga leader (shared with Bayern’s Kimmich and Leipzig’s Nkunku). Bellingham has made himself irreplaceable, but who will play alongside him?
Axel Witsel has left the club, Emre Can is stagnating. As a result, Mahmoud Dahoud is once again in focus, who played alongside Bellingham last season and was also in the starting XI under Terzic. A strong central player, but the other time we lacked the defensive power.
BVB reacted to this and took the Turkish national player Salih Özcan from 1. FC Köln, who sees his role more as a clearer than Dahoud. However, it remains to be seen whether the former Germany U21 international will prevail at BVB straight away.
The Dortmund squad promises the most quality on the offensive – the competition is especially tough on the wings.
The fact that Terzic is reportedly no longer planning with Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard is a clear sign: class instead of mass. Because with newcomers Karim Adeyemi, Donyell Malen, Marco Reus, Giovanni Reyna, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Youssoufa Moukoko, enough top-class players are already fighting for the nominally only three places behind the new striker Sébastien Haller.
Ajax Amsterdam’s dream striker should be in Edin Terzic’s system. How the other offensive stars are used depends primarily on the tactical orientation.
If BVB plays in the classic 4-2-3-1, as was the case under Terzic in the past, three places would be free: nominally, these should be occupied by Adeyemi on the left wing, Reus in the center and Malen on the right, the Trio Brandt , Reyna and Hazard would have to subordinate themselves. With a good preparation, Bynoe-Gittens or Moukoko would also be contenders for these outside positions. A 4-3-3 would also be conceivable, in which only two places would be free next to Haller.
Should Terzic change defensively to a back three, a formation with a second striker would be possible in addition to a 3-4-3, such as a 3-5-2: Adeyemi often played this position in Salzburg, and Moukoko would also be a candidate here alongside Haller.
Regardless of the system, one thing is clear: Edin Terzic is spoiled for choice on offense.
Lars Wiedemann