BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Turning promise into deliverance
Due to take part in their fifth straight pool stage, the Schwarz-Gelben will be looking to crash through the glass ceiling that has thwarted them in recent years. Since losing to Bayern in the 2013 final, Dortmund have tended to lose their bearings in the knockout phase, unable to do better than a couple of quarter-final appearances in 2013-14 and 2016-17.
The Ruhr outfit will be most keen to get last season’s round of 16 elimination to PSG out of their system. This really was a tie they should have wrapped up. In the first leg at home, they deserved much more than a single-goal victory (2-1) and in the return at the Parc des Princes, Lucien Favre’s side never moved out of second gear. Coach Favre and his merry men can and must do better.
In a massive boost for the Westfalenstadion side, 20-year-old wing wizard Jadon Sancho is staying for another season. The London-born youngster, who racked up 20 goals and as many assists last term, had been heavily linked with a summer move to Manchester United. However the Red Devils were not willing to meet Dortmund’s £100 million valuation. Cue huge sighs of relief in Black-and-Yellow land. Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels certainly was pleased to hear the news. “In lots of games he (Sancho) was the one to make the difference. His potential is limitless.”
Will Brazilian starlet Reinier shine?
Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc is convinced he has pulled off a coup in sealing a 24-month deal for the creative attacker from Real Madrid, describing the teenager as “more or less the complete player”. He can play as a number ten, on either flank or even as a false nine.
Where must Dortmund improve?
As a defensive unit, they must be more co-ordinated and attentive to danger. The unforced errors have to become a thing of the past and their counterpress has to function better as well.
Is a change of shape on the cards?
For much of last season, Favre opted for a three-man defence. Not that he has given up on the concept of a back four. “All the big teams use this set-up,” he says, hinting that he was ready for a rethink. A possible recalibration would be a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a spot freed for a genuine number ten.