Borussia Dortmund: The curious case of Mahmoud Dahoud

When Borussia Dortmund purchased German U-21 international Mahmoud Dahoud this past summer they likely envisioned him as a rising superstar in the Bundesliga. Instead, the player has struggled mightily since joining BVB.

One needs only to log on to twitter occasionally to witness the outrage from a select group of BVB fans whenever Mahmoud Dahoud is left out of the lineup (you know who you are). It is quite fascinating to read.

Some of the same fans who complain about Gonzalo Castro playing poorly or Nuri Sahin being too slow, regularly defend Mahoud Dahoud. They would certainly have a valid argument if not for the fact that Dahoud has been one of BVB’s lowest rated players this season.

Gone is the player who scored the amazing goal against Schalke in the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season. His debut season (2015-16) at Borussia Mönchengladbach was nothing short of impressive.

MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – April 22: Mahmoud Dahoud of Borussia Moenchengladbach controls the ball Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga Match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia-Park on April 22, 2017 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach via Getty Images) /

During that campaign Dahoud made 32 appearances for The Foles. He scored five goals and assisted nine. He followed this up with another solid effort in 2016-17. Many pundits had the player ranked as one of the best center midfielders in the league.

Mahmoud Dahoud has been a completely different player since joining Borussia Dortmund. He appears to lack confidence when on the ball and has been timid with his passing game. Much of this could also be a factor of his change in scenary.

He featured in a vastly different system under André Schubert than he has under the two Peters (Bosz/Stöger). His role at ‘Gladbach has likewise shifted since making the move to Dortmund. In short, Dahoud has failed to make the transition since becoming a Black and Yellow.

His inability to make an impact at BVB may also be due to coaching. Others might say that Bosz and Stöger have simply relied more heavily on Castro and Nuri Sahin, opting for age and experience over youth and potential.

If the latter is true then it stands to reason that Dahoud has not done enough to stand out in the squad, preventing him from earning a starting XI spot. The player was at his most productive during the first few weeks of the season. Since September though, it has been all downhill.

Dahoud has scored no goals and assisted three this season, all of which occurred between match days four and six. Since that time, he has mostly struggled to contribute positively to Dortmund’s attack.

Furthermore, his shots-on-target percentage (2/13 – 15%) is one of the lowest in the Bundesliga among midfielders who have played more than 600 minutes in the current campaign.

His pass success percentage is high (87%), however, this is “fool’s gold”. Dahoud rarely plays the long ball, instead, he almost exclusively plays the ball short, increasing his percentage of reaching the desired target.

Only twice (both under Peter Bosz) has Dahoud had the confidence from the touch line to play the full 90 minutes in league play. More alarming, since match day seven Dahoud has been selected for the BVB starting XI on a mere two occasions.

For those who struggle with math (myself included), that is two starts over the course of the last 15 league matches. In BVB’s ten most recent games he has been left out of the squad altogether three times (match days 13,19,20), and for good reason. When “Mo” has played, he simply hasn’t performed well. Plain and simple.

Again, there could be underlying factors, as previously mentioned. During his time at Mönchengladbach, Dahoud was almost exclusively featured in a four-man midfield. His role was as a hybrid “number six”, who would also contribute heavily in attack.

The player typically playing as the other center-mid in ‘Gladbach’s 4-4-2 formation in 2015-16 was current Arsenal star Granit Xhaka. The two players formed a formidable duo in André Schubert’s midfield, playing extremely well off one another.

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Much of same held true during the 2016-17 campaign as Dahoud again formed a dynamic center-mid tandem with Christoph Kramer. Despite a new partner in crime, the player’s role within the ‘Gladbach system remained mostly, if not entirely unchanged.

In Dortmund, things are much different. Under Bosz as well as Stöger, BVB has almost exclusively lined up in a 4-3-3. This means far more responsibility for each of the midfield players, with a greater emphasis on the individual.

His difficulty to wade his way through the murky waters of Dortmund’s current formation and philosophy has hindered Dahoud from being the box-to-box midfield phenom he was for ‘Gladbach during the two prior seasons.

Other players have struggled in the “new” Dortmund as well. Take for instance Julian Weigl. Once a guarantee to represent Germany at this year’s World Cup, he has been a shadow of his former self since the departure of Thomas Tuchel from the club.

Tuchel primarily used either a 3-4-2-1, 4-1-4-1, or 4-2-3-1 at Dortmund last season. These formations are tailor-made for a player with Weigl’s skillset, but also Mahoud Dahoud.

At the time when Dahoud agreed to come to BVB it was unbeknownst to everyone that Tuchel would depart at the end of the 2016-17 season in the midst of great controversy. This certainly did no favors for a handful of players.

COLOGNE, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 02: Mahmoud Dahoud of Dortmund controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Koeln and Borussia Dortmund at RheinEnergieStadion on February 2, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) /

It is my belief that Dahoud still has loads of potential, perhaps not with this club, or more specifically, not under this manager. If the rumors are true and BVB can land Julian Nagelsmann to be their next next man in charge this coming summer, it could save Mo’s career at the Westfalenstadion.

Nagelsmann prefers the 3-1-4-2, which would instantly make Dahoud a greater asset to Dortmund than he is currently. This will allow him to showcase his strengths while hiding many of his weaknesses, thanks to the increase in midfield personnel.

With BVB’s array of players there is certainly nothing binding them to a 4-3-3. A transition back to a four or five-man midfield with three in the back would be an easy and intelligent transition for the side considering their current roster.

There is hope yet for young Mahmoud Dahoud in Dortmund, but certain things must change in order for him to achieve success in the Ruhr. He will remain a poor fit within Stöger’s system. If this manager stays beyond June it may be in Mo’s best interest to request a transfer out.

Should a different manager such as a Julian Naglesmann or Hannes Wolf enter the fray though, it could have a major positive impact on the squad as a whole, but most certainly for one Mahmoud Dahoud, whose very career could depend on it.

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