MAINZ, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 24: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates with teammates Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund and Paco Alcacer of Dortmund during during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund at Opel Arena on November 24, 2018 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)
What would be Borussia Dortmund’s best formation for next season?
With the acquisition of former captain Mats Hummels and with the transfers of Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard and Nico Schulz, Borussia Dortmund have an abundance of new talent.
Borussia Dortmund’s line-up and formation for the 2019/20 season will look quite different from last season — perhaps rivaling the strength and consistency of the successful Klopp years. Lucien Favre has many tools at his disposal now. What formation could the Swiss tactician use next season with this roster?
DORTMUND, GERMANY – DECEMBER 21: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Jadon Sancho (L) of Dortmund battles for possession with Thorgan Hazard (R) of Moenchengladbach during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Signal Iduna Park on December 21, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images )
4-2-3-1
A backline of Schulz, Hummels, Akanji, and Piszczek/Hakimi would bring stability and balance to the defense, allowing the right back to maraud forward by ensuring that one of the central defenders or defensive midfielders can cover the space that is left behind.
And speaking of those central midfielders, last year’s spine of the midfield, Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel, would fill those positions in front of the back four. What Delaney lacks in his offensive game, he certainly makes up for in his defensive capabilities. As for Witsel, he was a revelation in midfield last year with his intelligent passing, positional awareness, and solid defensive work. Weigl and Dahoud are other midfield options, but it remains to be seen whether they will be used much next season.
The four remaining offensive players would be Hazard/Brandt on the left wing, Reus as the number ten, Sancho on the right, and either Götze or Paco Alcacer as the striker.
This formation sacrifices some of the creativity that would be left on the bench like Julian Brandt/Hazard/Dahoud; however, it would be defensively solid and perhaps pragmatic considering the amount of goals Dortmund conceded last season after the winter break.
