Why Borussia Dortmund should consider switching to a back three

Six reasons why Borussia Dortmund should consider switching to a back three

FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY - AUGUST 12: Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund gestures during the Bundesliga match between Sport-Club Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadion on August 12, 2022 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. (Photo by Helge Prang - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images) /

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Mats Hummels (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images) /

Prevents lack of pace from being exposed

With full-backs that are more talented going forward than defending in a traditional 4-3-3, a team needs either an all-round defensive midfielder or a fast paced central defensive duo to cover the spaces left behind. Pace certainly isn’t in abundance when it comes to the Borussia Dortmund defenders.

Schlotterbeck might be the only option who can match the pace of the Bundesliga strikers. Süle has not usually been classified as a fast player, but a more physically imposing guy with great height and solid defensive actions. Hummels always got the spotlight for his excellent ball skills, strong positioning and good timing in interceptions. In terms of back-up options, Emre Can lacks consistency and reliability while Soumaila Coulibaly has not played any first-team minutes yet.

Considering our current options, it is possible to say that only one of Dortmund’s central defenders possesses the necessary speed to cover the open spaces left by the offensive-oriented full-backs. Therefore, a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 system seems an interesting alternative to spare the team’s defensive liabilities.