Opinion Borussia Dortmund
Terzic’s reversal is fatal
As of: 09:02 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
“We don’t need to talk about anything else” – Stuttgart dreams of the DFB Cup final
BVB is struggling with its own performance after the deserved quarter-final exit. VfB Stuttgart, on the other hand, is already dreaming of the final in Berlin – and striker Deniz Undav is dreaming of the European Championship in Germany for Germany.
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Borussia Dortmund’s current style of play does not represent passion, but rather discouragement. The silent cup exit in Stuttgart shows that things cannot continue like this. There is a need to talk, including with coach Terzic.
What should an ambitious team, what should a proud, ambitious Bundesliga team stand for? In the best case scenario, for successful, inspiring football. In any case, for attitude and passion.
What Borussia Dortmund is currently playing is pretty much the opposite of all of that. Edin Terzic’s team literally isolates itself and barricades itself deep in its own half – at least when it comes against strong opponents. BVB currently stands for discouragement.
That’s how it was last weekend, when Dortmund fought to a 1-1 draw in the top Bundesliga game in Leverkusen with a lot of noise and a strong Gregor Kobel – that’s how it was on Wednesday, when this approach aimed at limiting damage led to the The Black and Yellows were quietly eliminated from the DFB Cup.
BVB is playing like a relegation candidate
What Dortmund played in the 0-2 (0-0) draw in Stuttgart was unworthy of a top team and raises questions. Why does BVB, which was able to prevail in a difficult Champions League group with Paris, Newcastle and AC Milan, make itself so small? Why does Terzic let the team play like relegation candidates?
Edin Terzic is currently stonewalling BVB
Source: AFP/INA FASSBENDER
He has his reasons. The coach distrusts the team in a certain respect because, like many of his predecessors, he has been repeatedly disappointed in his efforts to make the team compact. Unnecessary ball losses or thoughtlessness have brought BVB into mentality debates several times in recent years. Ultimately, it was these negligences that led to Dortmund not becoming champions last season – even though they deserved it in terms of football.
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But the reverse conclusion of relying solely on avoiding mistakes is fatal: the team is not designed to fight epic defensive battles. BVB is neither Atlético Madrid nor FC Augsburg. A five-man defense chain and a nominally oh-so-compact midfield don’t help either.
Can touches the trainer’s territory
“We have to talk,” Emre Can said after the cup exit. The BVB captain is right. Because things can’t go on like this. Can’s statements should first and foremost be understood as self-critical – but it is clear that they at least touched on the coach’s territory when he described the performance in Stuttgart as a “footballing catastrophe”.
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However, there is a need for discussion not only in relation to tactics. Some problems are fundamental. They also have to do with the composition of the squad and the lack of development of some players. In recent years there has often been talk of creating a new hierarchy. Little progress has been made in this regard. Apart from Kobel, BVB has not been able to develop a new leader.
A clear line is needed to get back on track. The prerequisite for this would be unity. Even if it is true that the differences of opinion between Terzic and sports director Sebastian Kehl on factual issues do not necessarily equate to a total rift – they do exist. That’s not helpful either.
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