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Borussia Dortmund: Winners and losers from the season so far

By Tushar Bahl

Dortmund's English midfielder Jadon Sancho celebrate scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match BVB Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt, in Dortmund, western Germany on February 14, 2020. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / RESTRICTIONS: DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
Dortmund's English midfielder Jadon Sancho celebrate scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match BVB Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt, in Dortmund, western Germany on February 14, 2020. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) / RESTRICTIONS: DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /
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DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Lucien Favre of Borussia Dortmund looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Lucien Favre of Borussia Dortmund looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /

Loser: Lucien Favre

It is hard to remember the last time Borussia Dortmund had a squad this good on paper. The team that reached the Champions League final in 2013 was indeed special, but it can be argued that this team has more combined talent and ability than that one.

Yet, Borussia Dortmund sit four points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga table and have already been knocked out of the Champions League and the DFB Pokal.

With the team underperforming once again, questions have to be asked about Lucien Favre and his ability to get the best out of his extremely talented squad. Favre hasn’t been helped by some of his side’s poor defensive lapses. But his tactical set-up, man-management and in-game coaching leave a lot to be desired.

Take the performance in the second leg against PSG as an example. Favre parked the bus from the off, and it was obvious by the 30th minute that his plan had failed. But it took him until the 70th minute to make his first tweak, and that too saw one attacking player replace another.

Borussia Dortmund’s away form, especially in big games, has been really poor this season. And Favre’s conservative tactics have a lot to do with that. Even in games that Dortmund have won, more often than not, the team have been rescued by moments of brilliance from one of their attacking players.

The Swiss head coach’s contract does not expire at the end of next season. But unless Dortmund win the title this year, don’t be surprised if they have a different coach in the dug-out come August.

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