We got to the playoffs early.
From year to year there are clubs that have extremely controversial seasons. This time Borussia Dortmund compensates for failures in the championship with successes in European competitions: the “yellow and black” have already made an attempt to become the season opener Champions League. Let’s see what happens in Dortmund.
Moving on to the championship showdown
Dortmund are not among the main players in the Bundesliga – and at the moment Monaco’s machine is failing. Bayer’s Xabi Alonso took the lead. Bayern lost as many as 4 points to their arrogant competitor (all due to a couple of misfires at the start and the shameful defeat of Eintracht). In the top 3 is Stuttgart, who finished last season in 16th place. All these teams already have more than 30 points! Below is Leipzig and only then Borussia. The “Bombi” are far behind the leading group (6 points or more).
Moreover, Dortmund did not start so badly: after a decline in the starting period, they achieved 4 victories in a row, but the team’s position was determined by key matches. At the beginning of November there was a chance to take the race with the Munich team and Bayer, but they suffered a crushing defeat (0:4). Immediately afterwards they allowed Stuttgart to increase their lead (1:2). In the last 6 rounds, Dortmund have only achieved one victory! And although they took points away from the league leader, they then remained without points again against Leipzig.
Terzic remarked after the last match:
Before removal [Хуммельса] we played better. We also dominated the opponent in the second half, even though we were in the minority, we had an intense program and many injuries.
Now we are undergoing a very serious test. But it was clear that the team played with a lot of energy, believed in it until the end and, despite everything, tried to obtain an acceptable result.
Only in fact, due to such circumstances, Borussia is forced to temporarily abandon the title fight.
IN Champions League – success in the “group of death”
At the same time, the “hornets” have already shown miracles of transformation when they started from 6th place in January 2023 – and at the end of February they reached 2nd place. Terzic has given results: the same thing can happen this winter. But that will happen later – and right now the German giants are becoming the discovery of the Champions League.
Dortmund found themselves with a “group of death” in which they were the obvious outsiders. You can’t argue with the balance of power. Behind PSG says the star team of the attacking group, Milan has recent experience in the semi-finals of the tournament. Newcastle are an arrogant newcomer, peppered by the calendar nuclear submarine and with competent management. On paper, Borussia lacked mass in these clashes. And they started with the expected 0:2 of the Parisians.
But the Germans argued and after the draw with Milan they beat Newcastle. And both at home and outside. At San Siro he secured a ticket to the playoffs ahead of schedule – the Bumblebees coach praised their away success:
We are very happy that we managed to reach the playoffs early “death groups». It is also gratifying to have won two matches away from home.
We had problems with some players. The doctor told us in advance who could play 30 minutes, who could play 45 and who could play 60.
Borussia were partly lucky: Newcastle were hit by a series of injuries and now almost the entire starting team is in hospital. Milan are also stagnating under injury pressure, but there are also systemic problems that have not played a role in the transfers. There are problems inside too PSG, but the French dealt with them faster and therefore maintain 2nd place. Although it is not worth talking about luck when talking about a modest club in the company of European giants. Now Terzic’s team only has to maintain the leadership in the direct clash with the Parisians.
Terzic can move up the club’s rankings
Terzic has managed to earn his reputation at Borussia and continues to strengthen his image. Last spring he was closer than ever to taking the championship away from Bayern: in the final phase his inexperience let him down. Furthermore, they have reached a good level in European competitions: they made Chelsea sweat in the round of 16.
In this context, 5th place in the Bundesliga now seems like a failure. But, firstly, stagnation is a common reality for all top teams: Bayern, by its standards, has collapsed significantly, Leipzig has dropped out of the top three. Yes, and the 6-point gap can be recovered: it’s a question of the stability of the competitors. Secondly, there are objective obstacles. In the summer, the Bumblebees were left without their midfielder Jude Bellingham, they also released Rafael Guerreira to Bayern, also as a free agent. Promising youngsters – Duranville, Mukoko and Nmecha – lie with injuries. There are also the experts Rierson, Wolf and Sabitzer. Almost all of them are starters. Thirdly, with such losses, the load from Champions League – in the heaviest group it is greater than before. And Borussia is doing well.
Therefore, Edin Terzic is unlikely to be fired – no one will show a better result with the current introduction. Moreover, according to the latest data, the German specialist can go further in the club’s vertical: they want to appoint him sporting director in the summer. Now this place is occupied by Sebastian Kehl, but now the official and the coach cannot find a common language. With this step, general director Hans-Joachim Watzke wants to make compromises: on the one hand, keeping Terzic, who is popular among the fans, at the club, and on the other hand giving impetus to the team by inviting a new coach.
