The bright spots and worrying signs from Borussia Dortmund’s season so far
By Ali Boty
The start of Borussia Dortmund’s 2023-24 season has been anything but pretty. However, it’s not all bad for the Black and Yellows at the moment.
Following last season’s devastating finale vs Mainz, fans expected Borussia Dortmund to dominate and start strong in the new season. Although Edin Terzic’s side is, so far, unbeaten in the Bundesliga, the record does not even begin to tell the whole story.
Loss of key players, the introduction of new faces, positional changes, and tactical adjustments have created a sense of uncertainty in the squad.
The departures of Raphael Guerreiro and Jude Bellingham have left a void in the creative department, making it a challenging period for the team’s new signings to adapt to Terzic’s system.
The bright spots, so far
In the early stages of the season, Borussia Dortmund appeared to lack spark and creativity, with performances often coming across as flat and uninspiring. However, as the weeks have gone by and changes have been implemented, the squad has shown signs of becoming more fluid and exciting.
Notably, Borussia Dortmund have only suffered one defeat this season, a 2-0 away loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
The synergy of new signings was a point of concern for the team and fans. Felix Nmecha, brought in from Wolfsburg to fill the gap left by Jude Bellingham, initially faced criticism for underwhelming performances.
However, recent successes, including the winning goal against Newcastle United and an assist against Union Berlin, have seen his stock gradually rise.
Marcel Sabitzer’s quality is well known and fans remain eager to witness his contribution. Playing alongside Emre Can, he could certainly make an impact in making the transition from defence to attack smoother. Ramy Bensebaini has demonstrated versatility and offered solid defensive contributions, even if his performance against Eintracht Frankfurt left a lot to be desired.
Niclas Füllkrug has also provided a positive impact, both on and off the ball. His involvement in four goals only tells part of the story, as his hold-up play and aggressive duelling nature inspire his teammates to elevate their performances.