Borussia
Dortmund, a team which has beaten the very best European clubs, won domestic
titles, and in 2012-2013 Champions League came close to winning but lost to their German counterparts Bayern Munich. The German club in the
past few years have always finished in the top four. And with the squad they
had this season you would have expected Dortmund fans to expect nothing less
than a top four finish, compete in the Champions League and win domestic
titles.
In 2012-2013 season, with Dortmund having Lewandowski their top striker scoring left and right
and ensuring the club gets the three points and always challenge Bayern Munich
for the title. But with Lewandowski contract ending last season, he became a
free agent and was snatched up by their bitter rivals Bayern Munich. A big blow
to BVB. But few signings were made the most noticeable ones being Shinji Kagawa
returning back to the club where he made his name after two dismal seasons at
Manchester United, and adding attacking options like Adrian Ramos and Ciro
Immobile. Even though Dortmund had made some good signings, nothing could make
up for their savior’s (Lewandowski) exit as he was their marquee players for
the side.
Borussia
Dortmund had to move on from that and focus on their current season objectives.
But their start to the current season was not what Dortmund supporters were
expecting. A two nil loss to Bayern Leverkusen on opening day leaving them in
seventeenth place. And they ended the month of August in eighth place with a
narrow win over Augsburg on the last match in the month of August. Dortmund
started the month of September on a good note with a win over Freiburg and many
would have assumed that parity has been restored to the German side. But the
following three matches that month they picked up only point and also losing
out to their bitter rivals Schalke in the Ruhr Derby. And they dropped down to
twelth position in table which would have disappointed many Dortmund fans.
But
what came after that for Borussia Dortmund shocked most importantly their fans
and many football pundits from all around the world. The Dortmund Coach Jurgen
Klopp was feeling the heat. And with rumors going around like wildfire that he
would be sacked, it just made things worse for the German side. They picked up
only nine points from thirteen games. A nightmare season for the German club
and they finished the year with fifteen points and they were in the relegation
zone at seventeenth place.
New year, every Dortmund supporter would have
been expecting better results but sadly the new year started with a draw and
then a loss. With Dortmund performing like this, the supporters were more worried about their team getting relegated than fighting
for the European spot. But from February things started to change. I guess
Jurgen Klopp found a solution to fix the hellish season that Dortmund were
having. From February fifth their luck started to change and we could find the
shades of the old Dortmund back which use to be a menace to other German clubs.
Remarkable performances by the team lifted them off from the drop zone all the
way up to tenth place the top half in the league where they currently sit in
the table, and also they are only five points behind the sixth place Augsburg
who sit in the last qualifying spot for the Europa League.
The
turnaround for this German side has been fantastic when all thought that this
might be a nightmarish season for them. They managed to turn things around and
prove to their supporters that are going to fight till the very end. Applause
must not only go to the players for pulling their socks up and playing like how
they should have played the whole season. It should also go to the manager Jurgen Klopp
who was definitely receiving a lot of stick and pressure from the supporters and
management. But the great manager that he is, he always believed in his
coaching abilities and his player’s ability to deliver winning performances.
With Dortmund now finding their feet in the League and picking up momentum at
the right time. Their next challenge will be this week against Bayern Munich
“Der Klassiker” the Derby. The last time these two sides met their savior who
left (Lewandowski) got on the score sheet. With Dortmund now playing at home
and having found renewed confidence it’s going to be a cracker of a game.
Like
they say it’s not how you start but how you finish. And that’s exactly the
story of Borussia Dortmund current season. They started horribly and they are
heading on course to finish strong. With the players finding confidence in themselves
and for the club, it goes to show that form is temporary but the class is
permanent.
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