Considering their position 6 years ago, Borussia Dortmund deserves more than the cups they have won in the last two years as a reward.
A club in demise and a huge amount of debt, Dortmund sold their players, their stadium, counted their losses – but vowed to come back to the big time.
Fronted by Jurgen Klopp, this new breed of Dortmund have most definitely wowed, spending practically nothing on a complete rebuild, but putting huge amounts of effort into their youth policy. Since becoming bankrupt Dortmund are back where they belong, and in the last two seasons and have won two leagues and a German cup.
However, with the rich history the club have fans aren’t willing to settle for this Bundesliga dominance, the question is are Dortmund ready to put themselves back at the top of the European elite.
Last season’s Champions league saw a poor run of games not even see them past the group stage, not allowing the fact they were in a tricky group excuse them, the Signal Iduna Park faithful certainly expect better.
This year however Dortmund hope to replicate the Champions League stars of 1997, and bring the coveted European trophy back to Germany.
Having lost Kagawa, and constant rumours throughout the summer of the possible out-goings, Dortmund have built on a strong squad from last year adding Marco Reus, a more than capable replacement for Shinji Kagawa (who scored in his Bundesliga debut for against Werder Bremen), and Julien Schieber a previous Germany U21 international with an eye for goal. While most importantly keeping the likes of Lewandowski, Hummels, Gotze and Bender.
The challenge for them is to take their league form into Europe, something they could not do last year. Considering their demolition of Bayern Munich in last year’s German Cup Final, it’s clear to see on their day (even in cup competitions) they can match the best, but champions league is a different level, but with the experience of last year, they most certainly should handle the big stage better this time around.
For now, it’s hard to predict the club destiny within the Champions league, especially after last years tournament’s mercurial knockout stages, but with a good start to Bundesliga, and without injuries, there’s no reason that once again Dortmund’s name cannot be engraved on the trophy once again.
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