On Friday evening, Borussia Dortmund travelled to Heidenheim as they looked to claim a fourth straight Bundesliga win. However, Die Schwarzgelben were left frustrated as the hosts fought hard to earn a point, and in reality, it could have been far worse for Edin Terzić’s side.
This, therefore, left the Dortmund head coach exasperated after the full-time whistle, when he would criticise the performance of his players: “With the performance we showed, we didn’t deserve more than this one point. We had a decent team on the pitch. We had to show a better performance here.”
“Guys who were dissatisfied in the last few weeks and months were given a chance today, but it was clearly not enough. As a team, we didn’t manage to get on the pitch.” While Terzić failed to mention specific players, it is still clear to see those whom the 41-year-old was disappointed in.
There were rare starts for Youssoufa Moukoko, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Thomas Meunier, and Salih Özcan. Therefore, one would imagine that the message sent out by Terzić was aimed at this set of players.
Regardless, whether the lack of support for these four was necessarily warranted can be questioned. While Moukoko’s impact from the bench in recent weeks has been undeniable, with an 86% pass success rate, three successful dribbles, and two chances created, he still had a positive impact on the game compared to those around him.
As well as this, while the others may not have performed to the level expected of them, perhaps questions should be asked of Terzić’s more senior players. Niclas Füllkrug and Donyell Malen have been lacklustre throughout the course of the season, and when Julian Brandt is unavailable, Dortmund’s midfield in general fails to ignite.
Three wins prior to Friday had suggested a change was around the corner for Dortmund. However, the performances indicated a different picture, and away to Heidneheim, they were once again highlighted.
Perhaps there is a greater issue plaguing Dortmund than the players on the pitch.
GGFN | Will Shopland
