Borussia Dortmund faced an uncertain future after their 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday. Despite carving out several chances in the first half and keeping Real on the defensive, Dortmund ultimately fell short.
Niclas Fuellkrug hit the inside of the post, and Karim Adeyemi troubled the Madrid defence with his speed. With a bit more luck and composure in front of goal, Dortmund could have secured an unlikely victory.
However, Real seized their chance, with Dani Carvajal heading in a goal after 74 minutes. This breakthrough weakened Dortmund’s resistance, and Vinicius Junior added a second eight minutes later, sealing Madrid’s path to their 15th Champions League trophy.
Although Dortmund’s fight and resilience throughout the tournament were evident, the club faces challenges ahead.
Despite notable performances from players like Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, and Gregor Kobel, who are expected to remain with the team, Dortmund must address their fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga, trailing Bayer Leverkusen by 27 points, amidst a period of upheaval.
Terzic will remain
Dortmund’s narrow loss to Real Madrid should not be viewed as a setback for a club of their caliber and history. Many formidable teams, including strong iterations of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and Atletico Madrid led by Diego Simeone, have also fallen short against Madrid in finals.
Despite being initially underestimated in a challenging group featuring Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, and AC Milan, Dortmund defied expectations by finishing on top.
Their journey saw them overcome formidable opponents like PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid, and PSG, culminating in a third-ever appearance in the final. With passionate support behind them, Dortmund came close to providing redemption for veterans Marco Reus and Mats Hummels, who had previously experienced defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich at the same venue.
Coach Edin Terzic, who faced scrutiny after subpar league performances, is set to continue with the backing of club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. However, Dortmund will bid farewell to Reus, and Hummels’ departure is expected, resulting in the loss of significant experience and skill in key positions.
Despite their deep European run, tensions between players and Terzic, particularly Hummels’ criticism of the coach’s defensive tactics, were evident.
Dortmund’s possession-oriented approach, successful against European opponents accustomed to dominating possession, revealed its limitations in the Bundesliga, where they struggled against defensively minded teams.
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and surprise runners-up Stuttgart showcased the effectiveness of a possession-based style, amassing significantly more points than in previous campaigns.
Budgetary difficulties
Under the stewardship of sporting director Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund has undergone a noticeable shift in its player recruitment strategy. Renowned for nurturing emerging talents like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, Dortmund has transitioned towards acquiring established stars in recent seasons, a departure from their previous approach that has been imitated by other clubs.
While this shift has brought stability and prolonged success in the Champions League, it also presents a challenge as there are currently no standout prospects like Haaland, Bellingham, Ousmane Dembele, or Christian Pulisic waiting in the wings.
This absence of potential superstars may have financial implications for the club.
As a member-run organization heavily reliant on revenue from European competitions, Dortmund stands to gain financially from their journey to the Champions League final and their qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup.
However, they may still face constraints in funding a significant rebuilding effort. Dortmund’s financial model traditionally hinges on proceeds from the sale of top talents, but their two most promising young players, Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen, are currently on loan and are owned by Manchester United and Chelsea, respectively.
This situation further complicates Dortmund’s ability to replenish their squad with new talent.
