Episode 25 Say it with flowers - Welcome Marco Rose with Sascha Staat of Ruhrnachrichten newspaper

Thank you for your interest in the BvB London fan community podcast as every week the focus of the show will be on exploring a facet of Borussia Dortmund's life by talking to experts and former participants of the club's life.

People like players, fans and journalists who have covered the club and decision-makers and experts who know the world of all our club well.

The aim of the podcast is to make this wonderful football club more accessible to non-German speakers. The podcast may also be of interest to German football fans who want to learn or practice English.

It's all change at the Westfalenstadion and with the unrest amongst players and fans alike at the recent string of poor results and only 1 win in the last 6 league games and disappointing draws against both Mainz and Hoffenheim teams which BVB would normally expect 6 points from these home fixtures the head has been on interim coach Edin Terzic. 

With key injuries most importantly Axel Witsel in midfield and a defence which has conceded 31 goals already by matchday 21 is looking decidedly critical even accounting for the absence of first-choice keeper Roman Bürki and Dan and centre back Axel Zagadou.

Second choice keeper Marvin Hitz has looked poor under pressure and an impressive Thomas Delaney has not been helped by Emre Can having to play in defence and Mo Dahoud being in such poor form. 

The club is also going through financial concerns with debts of €70m and players still on reduced wages there have been no winter signings, only U17 international striker Julian Rijkhoff coming in from Ajax Amsterdam to join the academy.

Still playing behind closed doors Borussia is missing the crucial 12th man and looking the worse for it now 16 points behind Bayern and of more concern, 6 points from 4th placed VFL Wolfsburg.

The agreement with Borussia Mönchengladbach coach for a three-year contract could not have come at a better time but who is Marco Rose and what is at stake this season and for the Leipzig born incumbent coach?  

On today's show, our guests are Sascha Staat a German football journalist who works for Ruhrnachrichten Dortmund's main newspaper as well as Eurosport and DAZN TV channels. 

1. Current season BVB lie in sixth place in the table and are far off the mark in terms of a champions league place. The defence is far from stable and players like Marco Reus are not in the form to provide leadership. Why the instability? 

2. The Roman Bürki enigma, have the weaknesses returned or are the goals being conceded a result of the instability crucially at right and left-back in defence.

3, The pressure is on Mats Hummels but is the pressure beginning to take away his enthusiasm? What should be the ideal line-up at Centre-back? Where should the constant Raphael Guerreiro be playing and which of the current defenders should be on Rose's for sale list this summer? 

4. What are issues in midfield without Axel Witsel? Can Borussia rely on Thomas Delaney? Where should Can be playing? Pundit and former international Lothar Matthäus says a player like Matthias Sammer is missing but which players could fill that gap from the current squad?

5. Marco Reus has had uncharacteristic poor form and failed to lead the team in several matches, but is there too much reliance on 17-year-old Jude Bellingham who has had to hit the ground running. Giovanni Reyna has been a revelation but is now rumoured to be on the selling list, he has looked physically less than assertive but would that be a good move.

6. Enter Youssoufa Moukoko could he replace the incredible Erling Haaland, a striker who has scored more times than games played in since joining 1 year ago. Could BVB manage without Haaland and what else is in reserve?  

7. What can be expected from Marco Rose in terms of tactical changes, what has been learnt from his style of coaching at RB Salzburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Is the slump in the other Borussia's form a concern? Will BVB be able to provide a war chest for Rose in the summer without selling a key player like Sancho?

Exciting times at the Westfalenstadion, with the Revierderby coming up at the weekend can the signing of Rose provide some stability? 

Sascha's book is 'Borussia Dortmund für Klugscheißer' a book in German with many little known facts on the club, you can buy it on Amazon.

We hope you enjoy the show, remember to send us your comments, share the show with friends and to apply for tickets contact the club via the website which is borussiadortmundlondon.co.uk or join the London BvB community at our online group at Facebook.com/borussiadortmundfanclubengland.

 

During the season you can also come to watch a game at our meet-up Stammtisch at the Naughty Bar, just off Oxford Street, in Cleveland street central London.

 

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