Borussia Dortmund: Formation change the key to saving the season?

Personnel

This system, like all others, has benefits and draw backs. However, the most pressing concern has more to do with whether or not Borussia Dortmund have the players to make it work. The important players in a 3-4-3 are the highest-stepped centerback and the wingbacks. These players must form a connection, for many attacks will start from the ball-playing centre half, and flow through the wingbacks.

As a result, Mats Hummels is the keystone of this new philosophy. He is the only player in the Dortmund dressing room who possesses the game reading ability, defensive solidity, and passing skills to properly play his role. His performances have been solid so far with the exception of a few errors, but there is one problem: he has been recently injured.

Even though he will not be out of the team for some amount of time, it showcases the depth issue with this formation. Although Zagadou has shown glimpses of his ability to play out from the back and start attacks, it remains to be seen if Lucien Favre fully trusts him. So it is possible that the entire structure could collapse in Hummels’ absence unless someone else steps up. However, so long as he is playing that void is more than filled.

In terms of the wingbacks, Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi are both decent defenders and more than competent attackers. That being said, the question of depth is again raised. Aside from an inconsistent Schulz, there is no ready-made replacement for either of these players in that position, and it is rare to find the box to box quality that these two players have. Mateu Morey has hardly been used, and Lukasz Piszczek lacks the pace to play this role.

Additionally, there is the concern of Guerreiro’s stature and physicality. Leipzig picked out this weakness in the recent tie, and tested his left flank with a barrage of floated passes that invariably turned into dangerous balls across the face of goal; one of these resulted in Patrick Schick’s equalizer.