Borussia Dortmund endured a difficult season in which the club underachieved and only just scraped Champions League qualifying for next term.
After separating with coach Thomas Tuchel last season, Peter Bosz was given control of the team, but after a strong start, he was sacked after round 15.
Peter Stöger took over, freshly sacked by bottom side Köln and barely changed the team’s tactics until the end of the season. A terrible Champions League campaign was followed by an ignominious Europa League exit. A stumbling finish to the season meant that Stöger will not be given a new contract and the team will have to start from scratch next season.
The campaign began positively back in Autumn of last year with 6 wins in their opening 7 games. But after their round 7 win against Augsburg, Bosz would not pick up another league win.
Alongside their league struggles Dortmund became the first side in the Champions League to finish third in their group without winning a game. But even in the Europa League, Dortmund failed to impress and in 10 European games they won just once.
Against their rivals Dortmund were also terrible. They lost 3 games against Bayern this season including a 0 – 6 demolition in Bavaria. They gave up a 4 goal lead at home to Schalke to draw 4 – 4 and offered a gutless performance in defeat away.
Overall Stöger’s side played languid, unimaginative football and the coach fell out with some important members of the team.
Few members of the Dortmund squad will be happy with their performances this season.
Before leaving for the Premier League in January Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had scored 13 goals in 16 games and his replacement Michy Batshuayi had scored 7 in 9 before an injury ended his season. Vice captain Marco Reus managed just 11 appearances in another injury hit season though he did score 7, and led the line well. Summer signings Jeremy Toljan, Mahmoud Dahoud and Andriy Yarmalenko all failed to offer much.
The coming summer will need to be intelligently navigated for Dortmund to maintain their status as a leading side in the league. A new head coach will be needed with fresh ideas and some quality signings with experience. It will not be easy, but this team cannot continuing playing the standard of football shown this season.
