Borussia Dortmund are in serious trouble, as they find themselves eighth in the table with 42 points from 29 games in the Bundesliga. The team now finds itself six points clear of that coveted fourth place. That final position guarantees automatic qualification to next season’s Champions League. Niko Kovac’s squad are battling the pressure, as they have only five league games remaining. Especially as they fight to retain their place in European competitions!
Dortmund came back last week to hold league leaders Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw, demonstrating their ability to compete with the Bundesliga’s best. That result only served to bury fears over their recent domestic league form. The team has just won two of their last five matches. Such lackluster performance has seen them lose over 6,700 highly coveted points.
Recent Performances Raise Concerns
Dortmund’s problem as their domestic league form has been the most glaring problem that’s became the biggest focus. They’ve impressed so far, most notably with a remarkable 3-1 win against FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Their record in the league has not lived or died by these European successes. The stark contrast between their Champions League performances and Bundesliga results has left fans and analysts questioning the team’s ability to maintain a high level of play consistently.
The team’s electric, high-pressing, counter-attacking style of play has won them worldwide fame, particularly in Europe. They’ve thus far struggled to replicate the same success on the home front. The players’ failure to turn great performances into league victories has led to a shaky situation that has become untenable. Borussia Mönchengladbach – Dortmund’s direct rivals, lie in seventh place with 44 points. This issue complicates Dortmund’s quest to requalify for European football even further.
Financial Implications of Failure
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Dortmund as they head into the home stretch of the Bundesliga season. A failure to qualify for any European competition would be the club’s worst case scenario. Such an outcome would not only deal a blow to team morale, but it would put their overall financial situation into deep jeopardy. The loss of revenue from European matches could hinder the club’s ability to strengthen its squad and compete at a higher level in future seasons.
Niko Kovac certainly knows the gravity of this moment as he guides his side through these important fixtures. He aims to inspire his players to harness their talents and replicate the form they displayed against Barcelona. The burden of expectation lies heavily on the shoulders of not only the coach, but players as well, to turn things around.
The Road Ahead
Dortmund have just five Bundesliga games remaining. So they need to take advantage of each and every opportunity to keep closing that distance back down to fourth. The players still appear to be finding the sweet spot between their intense, high-pressing style and sharp execution when it comes to scoring goals. As they prepare for the final matches, the focus remains on securing enough points to reclaim a position among Europe’s elite.
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