It was only a matter of time until Borussia Dortmund’s winning streak would come to a halt after the record-breaking start to the season.
Dortmund’s form (and player’s heads) of late look to point downwards after drawing two encounters and following that up with a crushing defeat at the hands of a merciless Bayern Munich. Among the squad and coach Thomas Tuchel’s open expressions of frustration and some needless finger pointing, the time is ripe to raise the question (in the most positive fashion possible) – what did everyone expect to happen this year?
Let us reiterate first that Borussia Dortmund smashed all records in the books when they drove opponents off the field in the first five games of this season, mustering up 18 goals, conceding as little as three and generally celebrating a style of football that fans had largely forgotten about in the wake of a disastrous 2014-15. So how could this remarkable achievement possibly be tainted by two draws and a defeat in Munich? Two explanations come to mind. One, the gloomy faces are nothing but an indicator of the newly found, maybe Tuchel-infused, determination to succeed in every match and under any circumstance. Two – and this is the impression some observers might currently lean towards – the brilliant start to the year has somewhat prematurely skewed the players’ expectations on how this season will unfold. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been adamant that the insatiable Bayern would not win the title this season and Tuchel dropped some cheeky remarks after match-day five regarding the black and yellows’ hopes of topping the table at the time. In short, although early in the campaign, it appears the gap between what the team (and an ever-growing, notably more fickle fanbase) invoked in the past couple of weeks and what is more objectively achievable is widening.
The problem with this diametrical relationship between reality and expectation is that it is as uncalled for as it is man-made. To add insult to injury – it is a recipe for disaster. Borussia Dortmund must not make the mistake of adopting Bayern Munich’s elusive standards and concept of what qualifies as a success. For the Bavarians, two draws and a defeat would hands down warrant the long faces Dortmund currently puts on display, but the ‘Klassiker’ last week has once again made it painfully obvious that Bayern’s world simply does not equal Dortmund’s. Not this year, and most likely not next year either.
That is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just something BVB is going to have to come to terms with first. Once that fact has been internalised, players and fans alike will appreciate the season for the success it has been so far. What is more, fans must not forget the gutting year that predated this good form, even when it is tempting to do so. Last year invariably set the tone for this season, which is why the humble attitude preached prior to matchday one must not be thrown out of the window just because of Dortmund’s rampant start. Could it be possible that opening the league with a five-game win streak subconsciously spoilt BVB, that they have been too towering for their own good?
If Dortmund are only a shred guilty of this thinking, they need to be grounded this instant. Bayern cannot be beaten – if that is healthy for the league or not is a different discussion – and hopelessly chasing a side that will always be a step ahead of you is borderline masochistic and can only be detrimental to the team. Instead, it needs to be accepted that after the shambles of last year there is no way around picking up the pieces first, which means regaining steady Champions League participation and funds to spell out that analogy. Logic dictates that only with that secured, Tuchel will have the financial power to mould a serious title contender in the near future.
Borussia Dortmund under Thomas Tuchel: WWWWWWWWWWWDDDL Games: 15 Won: 11 Draw: 3 Lost: 1 Goals: 44 Conceded: 18 pic.twitter.com/p31i7kyUI6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 5, 2015
Moreover, that is also where the fans and everyone with a vested interest in BVB’s performance come into the equation. Senseless criticism of players, cheap shots against Bayern and the like are not going to contribute to the climate Borussia Dortmund should be eager to reinstate right now. If, fuelled by external pressure, staff and players remain stubbornly fixated on giving Bayern a run for their money this year, chances are we will witness them digging themselves into a hole over the next 26 outings. They would perpetually fall short of their sky-high expectations, constantly face demoralising scenarios and quickly lose sight of what is really important in a season that is maybe best deemed a transitional year.
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All this deflating talk about not measuring up to mighty Bayern completely throws shade on the much more joyful fact that Dortmund still reside in second place of the table and look more than just competitive enough to claim that spot come the end of the season. It would be a huge leap from last year’s downer and arguably – and this is not just said for the effect – just as surprising a result as the first title win in 2011. That is the only target Borussia Dortmund has to set their eyes on right now. Get your feet back on the ground, embrace the new challenge and give yourselves a pat on the shoulder for a tremendous first eight weeks.
Oh, and there is also a Europa League to win. The club has seen much worse days.
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