The moment was awaited with some suspense: when stadium announcer Norbert Dickel invited Borussia Dortmund’s arrivals onto the pitch and he announced Felix Nmecha. The midfielder, for whom BVB had paid 30 million euros to VfL Wolfsburg, came through the tunnel, waved a little shyly – and got applause.
That was not a matter of course, because quite a few fans of the German runner-up took offense at Nmecha’s commitment. He was “homophobic” and “anti-queer” were the allegations after the 22-year-old actually shared two posts on his private social networks that at least suggested this. Of course, that was before he moved to Dortmund, Nmecha also deleted these posts and distanced himself – but the controversy as to whether a player who clearly opposes “racism, anti-Semitism, LGBTI+ hostility, sexism, violence and Discrimination,” continued.
Nmecha, an Evangelical Christian, accepted the applause with relief – as did the BVB club officials. Because it will depend not insignificantly on the German national player, who was trained at Manchester City, whether the coming season can be a successful one for Dortmund or not.
Successful dress rehearsal: BVB won the Ajax Amsterdam season opener
Which: Getty Images/Christof Koepsel
In that sense, Sunday was a good day. 80,000 came to the official season opener, it was the first reunion with their own fans since coach Edin Terzić’s team gambled away what was probably their greatest chance of winning the championship for years on the last day of last season. Back then, the stadium was drenched in a sea of tears – the image of the crying players having to be comforted by the supporters, who weren’t much better off themselves, was burned in. “I can’t forget that,” said Terzić, who addressed the spectator directly over the on-board microphone: “But I don’t want to forget it either. You showed us what it means to be Borussia.” “Incredible energy” emerged from the emotional processing of failure.
BVB additions give hope
With pathos alone, it will of course be possible to actually push Bayern off the throne if they try again. The prerequisite for this would be greater stability – and as far as that is concerned, Terzić certainly sees the beginnings. Because in the friendly against Ajax Amsterdam, which rounded off the season opener, his team indicated that they were prepared for the coming season. The Dutch champions were defeated 3-1 – and the three signings made a significant contribution to that. Rami Bensebaini, the left-back who came from Borussia Mönchengladbach, nurtured the hope of finally being able to close the neuralgic defence. Marcel Sabitzer, bought by FC Bayern for 20 million euros, gave structure to the build-up game.
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However, Nmecha left the most lasting impression. He indicated that he would be able to make up for at least some of what BVB lost with the departure of Jude Bellingham: dynamism and determination. “It’s always good when you start by showing a good performance,” Terzić explained, referring to all the arrivals, but then specifically emphasizing Nmecha, who he only came on at half-time. “Felix was involved in a lot of offensive actions, that was excellent. The playing field is very small for him with his long strides, he can go anywhere. We will measure him by that,” said the 40-year-old.
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The big gear is indeed one of Nmecha’s physical characteristics. Unlike many other midfielders, he doesn’t look like a sprinter – but like someone who knows exactly where to run. So he was spot on twice: In the 54th minute he was able to convert a penalty from Sébastien Haller from twelve meters out. Six minutes later it was a bit more challenging as Bensebaini dropped a little too late on him. But Nmecha still got the ball under control and shot it in from 18 meters. More good scenes followed, in which he demonstrated his overview.
For BVB, the positive assessment one week before the DFB Cup game at Mainz regional team TSV Schott and two weeks before the Bundesliga opener against 1. FC Köln is an indication that the traumatic end of the past season can be successfully processed.
The reorganization of the team that started last summer, which should also result in a new hierarchy, was continued. Players like Marco Reus, who has given up his captain’s armband, and Mats Hummels are to be replaced by new leaders in the future. The new BVB will be represented by Gregor Kobel, Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, Haller and Sabitzer, but above all by the new captain Emre Can. The competitive pressure should be increased again and in all parts of the team.
Captain Can believes in success
“We can be very, very successful,” Can said of the future. If the upward trend of the past second half of the season can be sustained and at the same time the phases of loss of control that ultimately cost the title minimized, BVB could once again be a championship contender. “It must be our goal to win titles. That has to be the clear goal this year,” said Sabitzer.
Marcel Sabitzer came from FC Bayern and seems to be set in Dortmund
Which: Getty Images/Christof Koepsel
What must not happen under any circumstances would be a continuation of the injury misery that has built up during the sportingly appealing preparation: Whether Kobel, Schlotterbeck, Duranville, Meunier, Bynoe-Gittens, Reyna or Adeyemi – Terzić can currently in relation to a number of Players can’t be sure if he can count on them in the coming weeks. In central defense he has no alternatives to Süle and Hummels. It is quite possible that improvements will still be made.
However, the overriding question for the future is a different one: Can new energy actually be drawn from tearful failure? Terzic is convinced of that. “We want to show that we’re far from done,” he called out to the fans – they responded with demonstrative applause and cheers.
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