Winter Review: Borussia Dortmund’s best and worst performers of the season so far
Anthony Modeste
This one comes with a bit of an asterisk. It is absolutely fair to say that a poacher of his quality should be delivering a little more when the chances arrive. You may recall that glaring miss in the home draw with Bayern Munich. A game in which Modeste ironically and justifiably stole the headlines with a last-gasp equalizer. It feels a little harsh to say that he’s underperformed in general because he was clearly not the ideal player profile that you’d associate with BVB.
A physical, instinctive poacher, Modeste was never known for his ability to thrive in compact build-up play or influence the game with his final pass. Yet, this is what some appear to expect from the Bundesliga veteran. We’ve been given a glimpse here and a strong directed header there. Honestly, this is about what viewers should have expected from the start.
Where critique prevails, however, is found in the spurned chances that are traditionally associated with success from the Frenchman. I mentioned the point-blank miss against Bayern, but it’s not the only time that BVB supporters have felt let down by the finishing quality.
Next. Borussia Dortmund’s four best January transfer window signings. dark
Sebastien Haller is closing in on his return, which is wonderful news for everybody involved at Borussia Dortmund and the sport for a variety of reasons. Yet, Modeste is sure to get his chance to contribute as Haller is likely at least a couple of months from being fully fit and Youssoufa Moukoko’s future hangs in the balance.