Borussia Dortmund’s defense is outstanding. There is no doubt about that, at least on paper. But what is probably the most explosive truth of the BVB season speaks a completely different language.
With Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, the Borussia Dortmund squad has three top-class players who can form the heart of BVB’s defense. In front of them there is a tough clearer in captain Emre Can and in the summer they brought in an extremely strong full-back in Ramy Bensebaini.
The fact that Jude Bellingham, the linchpin of Dortmund’s game, was made (a lot of) money in return and that Raphael Guerreiro, probably the most dangerous defensive winger in the league, was let go, raised doubts about their playing abilities in the run-up to the current season Borussia, but hardly anyone in the black and yellow environment was worried about defensive stability – a fatal misjudgment.
In the disappointing 1-1 draw against Kellerkind 1. FSV Mainz 05, BVB conceded its 25th goal in the league on Tuesday – a result that is almost historically bad.
BVB as bad as 16 years ago
The last time the club was worse off was in 2007/08, 16 years ago, at the same point in the season. At that time, the defense around veteran stars Christian Wörns and Robert Kovac as well as Martin Amedick, Markus Brzenska, Antonio Rukavina and the very young Hummels conceded 26 goals – by the way, the season ended in the dreary midfield of the table.
Otherwise, they presented themselves as more stable defensively, even in the rather disappointing 2016/17 season or the horror season of 2014/15.
This circumstance reads all the more frightening when you consider that BVB 2023/24 undoubtedly has an outstanding keeper in its ranks in Gregor Kobel (best kicker grade average of all goalkeepers) and that you rarely get the feeling that the defense is the one Dortmund’s Achilles tendon.
Hummels fought his way back into the DFB team with some extremely strong performances and went from being rejected to being a real contender for a place in the European Championship squad. Niklas Süle recently caused a stir with the tackle of the century and Schlotterbeck’s 65.89 percent of duels won are one of the best values in the league.
BVB star takes those in front to task
The truth, however, also includes numerous individual mistakes and the fact that the defense is too often let down by those in front, especially when BVB does not manage to get its game going.
“The basic principle” is “that defense doesn’t just start with the defense,” Schlotterbeck recently openly denounced and explicitly held the entire team accountable: “We all have to question ourselves. Whether it’s the defenders – or other players .”
However, the Dortmund management team should really think about the fact that this unconditional work for one another is apparently successful in the Champions League. It’s one thing that BVB came out on top in the “Group of Death” with Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United, and that they only conceded four goals (second best of all teams) against an offensive line full of world stars. the other.
Why is there seemingly a lack of willingness and will in everyday league life? This question arises and of course does not reflect well on coach Edin Terzic, whose controversial defensive statistics could ultimately cost him his job.
Marc Affeldt