Such is Borussia Dortmund’s penchant for self-destruction, the more glass-half-empty members of the BVB fanbase would be reluctant to admit that a title race is on the cards even if Die Schwarzgelben were two points clear at the top with one game remaining.
If there is a German equivalent of ‘Spursy’, it’s Dortmund.
But, after eight wins in a row in all competitions – the most recent a 4-1 hammering of Hertha Berlin – it is becoming increasingly difficult to write off Edin Terzic’s side. From fifth and nine points off the top in mid-November, when the Bundesliga paused for the Qatar World Cup, Dortmund are now level on points with a stumbling Bayern Munich at the summit.
Can Edin Terzic lead Borussia Dortmund to Bundesliga glory?
Terzic guided Dortmund to DFB Pokal glory in 2020/21, earning himself the admiration of Premier League trio Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and even a pre-Nuno, post-Mourinho Tottenham Hotspur despite the fact he was, at the time, still an inexperienced, 30-something tactician with a lot to learn (BILD).
Since returning for a second spell in charge, handed a permanent contract until 2025, Terzic’s progress reflects that of his team as a whole. He is a better manager these days. Dortmund, meanwhile, are becoming a better team, week by week.
Slowly but surely, Dortmund are ironing out those defensive kinks, clean sheets becoming less and less of a rarity at Signal Iduna Park.
Sebastian Haller’s long-awaited return has given this BVB side a whole new dimension, knitting together an increasingly-coherent attack while bringing the best out of Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi; scorer of that stunning solo goal against Chelsea in the Champions League last week.
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Even Emre Can, a millstone around Dortmund necks until recently, is contributing these days.
‘The best bench Dortmund ever had’
Whisper it, but Dortmund may have an advantage over the likes of Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and even Bayern in pursuit of their first Bundesliga title since the Jurgen Klopp heyday. Football, as they say, is a squad game. And Dortmund’s squad is stronger than most.
“That was the best bench Borussia Dortmund ever had,” Terzic smiled after that Hertha hammering; internationals Giovanni Reyna, Mo Dahoud, Raphael Guerreiro, Jude Bellingham, Thomas Meunier, Niklas Sule and the aforementioned Haller all handed a watching brief.
“We don’t want to win games (only) with the starting XI. We want to achieve our goals (as a squad).”
A few months ago, those ‘goals’ may have revolved around Champions League qualification. Now, Dortmund may be upgrading their ambitions.
With Antonio Conte’s contract expiring in July, Spurs could soon be back in the market for another head coach. Whatever happens between now and the summer, Terzic has proven himself to be a coach capable of taking raw ingredients and turning them into a Michelin-star meal.
In other news, Celtic transfer news: Jeonbuk Hyundai confirm Cho Gue-Sung stance
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