Analysis: Dortmund riding the wave
BERLIN, March 4– Ten consecutive victories in 2023 make Borussia Dortmund ride the wave as no other team in Europe’s top leagues is experiencing similar success. Bold dreams grow as fans feel reminded of the club’s last national championship in 2012, created by iconic coach Jurgen Klopp. Looking at things through rose-colored glasses at present might have…
By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, March 4 (Xinhua) — Ten consecutive victories in 2023 make Borussia Dortmund ride the wave as no other team in Europe’s top leagues is experiencing similar success.
Bold dreams grow as fans feel reminded of the club’s last national championship in 2012, created by iconic coach Jurgen Klopp.
Again, silverware has come into reach after the Black and Yellows closed a gap of seven points in the national league and, at least for a day, topped the table after beating RB Leipzig 2-1.
Looking at things through rose-colored glasses at present might have become in Dortmund ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Chelsea.
Despite a 1-0 lead out of the first leg, things can still go either way. Therefore, the current coach Edin Terzic isn’t talking about titles.
Following the duel against the Blues is the delicate Rhine-Ruhr derby with FC Schalke 04, followed by the possible decisive away game against Bayern Munich on April 1.
The 40-year-old BVB coach is speaking of willingness, passion, and unbreakable team spirit as he was referring to football’s constitutional law book.
Terzic has triggered new stability but is aware that many successful games end in a nail-biting way, as the results could easily go the other way.
But the 2021 German Cup winner has skipped its claim always to present a festival-like performance but seems to rely on pragmatic patterns.
“You might not be able to play your best every day, but you can get your fighting heart on the pitch every day,” midfielder Emre Can outlined.
In 2023, Dortmund have turned into a serious candidate to end Bayern’s 10-year-long dominance when it comes to the German league title.
Dortmund have gained robustness and mental strength on the national and international stage. Not even the short-term loss of first keeper and Swiss international Gregor Kobel made the side waver as replacement Alex Meyer seamlessly fitted in.
Dortmund didn’t lose a home game on a Friday evening in over 19 years as a wave of euphoria swapped through the BVB arena after Marco Reus and Can scored the goals.
To take every game as a new challenge instead of dreaming big at present seems to suit the side well, as fans might be allowed to talk about the title excessively, but team members keep their feet mainly behind the line.
Kobel’s recent comment on the club’s league title hope didn’t cause excitement but seemed to come naturally.
The current approach to pragmatically acting like a top team, in the first place, counting on results, is creating a pleasant atmosphere far from additional pressure.
A well-balanced mixture of fine football art in the first half and passion in the second made the side take three points against RB Leipzig. But Terzic said there is neither reason nor time to celebrate as the 2022/23 season is coming along with further testing. Enditem
