Borussia Dortmund squad depth analysis: Defenders and Goalkeepers
By Luke Hinkle
Raphaël Guerreiro
Raphaël Guerreiro is one of the more senior members of Borussia Dortmund’s current squad. Having been with the first team since July 2016, Guerreiro initially began his career as a left midfielder as well as being deployed as a central midfielder in several games. Over the last three seasons, however, Guerreiro has featured almost exclusively as a left-back or a left-wingback.
This summer saw some of the most vocal criticism of the Portuguese full-back come to the surface. Amid reports that Borussia Dortmund were interested in signing David Raum from Hoffenheim, it seemed possible that Rapha might be moved on. However, the move for Raum never materialized and the transfer window ended with Guerreiro still the first choice left-back.
No doubt Guerreiro will be looking to silence all criticism of his performances this season. Although no one questions Guerreiro’s offensive abilities and his abilities when joining the attack, it is the left-back’s defensive shortcomings that are targeted. Unless he can show some much-needed improvements on the defensive end, BVB will more than likely continue to look for his long-term replacement in coming transfer windows.
Tom Rothe
Tom Rothe is one of the young stars that Borussia Dortmund have poached away from other clubs to try and develop into something special. Brought in on a free transfer from FC St. Pauli, Rothe spent the majority of last season with the U-19s team before making his first team debut on matchday thirty in a surprise start against Vfl Wolfsburg in which he scored an incredible header.
Seeing as how he is still only 17, Rothe will more than likely spend the season playing primarily for the U-19s team, although he could potentially feature for the U-23s. With the first-team in desperate need of depth at left-back, however, expect to see Rothe feature in the first-team squad, and he could be in line for some senior appearances throughout the season.
Prince Aning
Yet another young star in the making, Prince Aning was one of the plethora of signings Borussia Dortmund made this summer. Brought in from the Ajax U-18 team, Prince Aning featured at left-back and left-wing during pre-season. His performances in pre-season garnered a great deal of praise from fans and even from head coach Edin Terzic.
Aning is set to play primarily for the BVB U-23 team in the 3. Liga as they fight to avoid relegation this season. However, much like Rothe, Aning should be in line to see first-team action periodically throughout the campaign due to the sheer lack of depth at left-back. Aning shows incredible pace and a good repertoire of ball skills, which make him one of the most exciting young players in the team.
Nico Schulz
After three seasons of consistently mediocre to outright terrible performances, Nico Schulz appears to have finally been entirely frozen out of the squad at BVB. Schulz was brought in during the summer of 2019 to both add depth at left-back and to challenge Raphaël Guerreiro for the starting role. It’s safe to say that after making only 61 appearances in those three seasons, he has been a great disappointment.
Things have gone from bad to worse for BVB and Nico Schulz as reports surfaced in early August that the player is being investigated for domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend. The details of the allegations are pretty shocking, and even though BVB have not taken any action yet against Schulz, he more than likely has played his last game for the club.