What to expect from Borussia Dortmund after the international break

It’s been a tough past month for Borussia Dortmund. The team’s woes have stretched from a loss to Tottenham Hotspur to most recently falling to Bayern Munich. The German club now sits in 3rd place in the Bundesliga with 20 points, ahead of rivals Schalke only on goal difference.

Dortmund are also in 3rd place in their Champions League group that contains Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. Disappointing displays from both Peter Bosz and the players have lost Dortmund crucial points that have already had a huge impact on their season.

DORTMUND, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 4: Andrey Yarmolenko of Dortmund looks dejected during the German Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munchen at the Signal Iduna Park on November 4, 2017 in Dortmund Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) /

It’s clear that things need to change, but what kind of changes can we expect from Der BVB? Where will the Dortmund hierarchy focus its effort?

Counter pressing needs to be adjusted

Since the glory days of Jurgen Klopp, Borussia Dortmund have possessed the characteristic of high pressure on the opposition’s defense, otherwise known as Gegenpressing. While it is an exciting tactic that has yielded results in the past, it hasn’t done a lot of good for the Black and Yellows this season.

This is perhaps the main reason that Borussia Dortmund have been unsuccessful against big teams. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and even RB Leipzig have the ability and talent to be able to maintain possession of the ball even under extreme pressure.

DORTMUND, GERMANY – OCTOBER 14: Bruma of Leipzig and Christian Pulisic of Dortmund battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig at Signal Iduna Park on October 14, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) /

I’m not saying that Bosz should throw that whole style out the window. However, Gegenpressing hasn’t resulted in forcing nearly as many errors as it has years before. It might be time to prioritize counter pressing less. This would enable Dortmund to focus on building a strong organized defense, something the club has lacked for a long time.

Borussia Dortmund could possibly make signings in January

The rumor mill is at it with whispers of players that could be wearing a Dortmund shirt as soon as this next transfer window. Most of these are just rumors, but there are one or two that actually seem to have credibility behind them. The club have money available after the sale of Ousmane Dembele.

And Dortmund could also be offloading unwanted players, while investing in even more young prodigies. You can read more about Michael Zorc’s comments on the issue here on BVB Buzz.

It’s very likely Bosz will prioritize league matches

It looks like Borussia Dortmund won’t make it to the Round of 16 in the Champions League. If the team finishes 3rd in the group, then that means Dortmund will qualify for the Europa League. While the Europa League has been getting more competitive lately, it still seems beneath Dortmund’s stature.

Peter Bosz may want to still try to rally his men to challenge Bayern Munich for the league title. 6 points behind leaders Bayern Munich is definitely an uphill battle, but not impossible. I know for a fact that not many people want to see the Bavarians lift the Bundesliga trophy again. Der BVB should put all they have in an attempt to win the coveted league trophy.

DORTMUND, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA – APRIL 07: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Fans of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool on April 7, 2016 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) /

Europe’s second tier international competition is the only major trophy that Borussia Dortmund have not won in its history. That is the main motivation behind fans who advocate that Dortmund should aim to win the trophy. I agree, this is a worthy cause, but only worth it if Dortmund wins it all in the end. Borussia Dortmund cannot afford to lose on such a risky wager.

Dortmund should treat the DFB tie against Bayern Munich like a final

Lastly, I believe Peter Bosz should put all he has into the next edition of Der Klassiker. If Bayern are eliminated, there aren’t many more threats between Dortmund and winning the cup for the second successive year. Borussia Dortmund are a club that should aim to win silverware. While the DFB Pokal is one of the lesser trophies, it it still a major trophy. They did it last season, I believe they can do it again this season.

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