Watching Dortmund's home defeat to Hoffenheim last Sunday, I had mixed feelings. German football legend Mateus also bluntly said Dort's strength in his column, to be honest, as a Dort's fan for many years, although I feel distressed, I have to admit that he has a point.
Dort's season has felt like a rollercoaster, with us beating big opponents at the peak and losing at our own stadium at the lows. Even though we had a good number of points until 2024, we always felt that there was something lacking in the game, and as Mateus said, we didn't perform as well as Dort.
After the defeat to Hoffenheim, there was a debate about whether or not it was a question for coach Terzic. Personally, I think football is a team sport and the responsibility cannot be put on the coach alone. However, Matthaus's point about the role of a coach is not unreasonable, after all, a coach should know his squad and understand how to maximize the team's potential.
Regarding the squad, the new signings over the past 18 months have certainly fallen short of expectations. As Mateus mentioned, you can't always hope for a long-term absence of a game on Jadon Sancho to save the team. I also agree with his view that Dort does need some fresh blood and needs to be brave enough to take that step.
When I heard that there was going to be a big blood exchange, I couldn't help but feel a little lost. After all, players like Hummels and Reus are more than just names for us fans, they represent the spirit and history of Dort. Hummels, in particular, I always felt that his consistency and leadership on the pitch was irreplaceable. But if you want to go for a better future, as Mateus said, even if it hurts, you must be willing to accept change.
Looking at this team, from excitement to loss, from victory to defeat, we as fans accompany them every step of the way. In the future, no matter how it changes, I hope that Dort can find his own path, not only to return to the top, but also to have his own football soul. The future of the team, we will see.