Has Edin Terzic failed to meet expectations at Borussia Dortmund?
By Eli Brand
Edin Terzic will be staying on as Borussia Dortmund head coach for the forseeable future. But did he manage to meet the club's expectations in the first half of the season?
It is no misconception that despite a strong showing in the UEFA Champions League, Borussia Dortmund are struggling and the morale around the club is low. Since the 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Black and Yellows have managed to accrue just seven points from eight matches, winning just one. This Bundesliga run has been sandwiched by a woeful performance against Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal, and a highlight win over AC Milan which helped the club win the group of death in the Champions League.
This run concluded with a 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Tuesday, but Edin Terzic was given a stay of execution and will be the BVB head coach for the start of the rückrunde.
Underlying numbers, are Borussia Dortmund as bad as they look?
In Attack
Borussia Dortmund’s attack ranks fifth in terms of xG in the Bundesliga at present. This places them 8.4 xG behind VfB Stuttgart and also behind the likes of RB Leipzig - who have a largely unproven attack following their summer overhaul and injury to star playmaker Dani Olmo.
This is particularly striking as Borussia Dortmund have been passed by a side that sold its leading scorer in Christopher Nkunku in the summer. Edin Terzic's side finished the previous season with the second best attack in the Bundesliga and kept hold of every key attacking player, bar Raphael Guerreiro and Jude Bellingham.
This demonstrates how Terzic has failed to progress his side. This is clear in the cases of Youssoufa Moukoko, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Karim Adeyemi and Gio Reyna.
All these young talents have struggled for consistent playing time in the first half of the season while not taking significant steps forward in terms of performances. If even one had been exceptional, it would make it easier to blame the players but all have failed to progress. Further, Donyell Malen - who should be entering his prime - has regressed back into inconsistency averaging a goal every 250 minutes.