Lothar Matthaus: Borussia Dortmund struggle linked to squad composition

Rob Fleming
11 January 2024

Borussia Dortmund's ambitious season has hit a roadblock, and football pundit Lothar Matthaus points to a glaring issue – an overemphasis on attack at the expense of defence.

Currently languishing in fifth place in the Bundesliga, six points adrift of the coveted Champions League spots, Dortmund's defensive frailties have become the focal point of their struggles.

In a recent interview with Sport BILD, the seasoned TV expert, Lothar Matthaus, dissected Dortmund's predicament. "At BVB, too much emphasis was placed on attacking players at the expense of the defence. That's where I see Dortmund's big weakness and the reason for the mediocre Bundesliga first half of the season," explained Matthaus, emphasizing a problematic squad composition.

Matthaus particularly highlighted the insufficient defensive options, asserting, "Six defenders for four positions are not enough, especially since (Mats) Hummels and (Niklas) Sule are neither able to play through the season."

He criticized the decision to prioritize Jadon Sancho's offensive prowess over reinforcing the backline, stating, "At the moment, Jadon Sancho is being improved again for the offence instead of doing something at the back."

Acknowledging the potential of Sancho, Matthaus added, "If Sancho achieves the form he had during his time at Dortmund, then he would be an asset. But he also has to show that he's more mature than we saw from Manchester recently."

The crux of Dortmund's struggles becomes evident when scrutinizing their defensive record – conceding 25 goals in just 16 league games. Matthaus underscored this point, emphasizing that Dortmund's primary issue lies in their defensive lapses.

As Dortmund face SV Darmstadt this Saturday, they find themselves grappling with major personnel problems, especially in defence. Injuries and international commitments have left them without key players. Full-back Julian Ryerson is sidelined due to injury, while Ramy Bensebaini is unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations. Coach Edin Terzic faces the challenge of patching up a makeshift defence to navigate through the upcoming fixture.

As Dortmund strive to climb the Bundesliga ladder, their defensive woes remain a significant obstacle, prompting questions about their squad composition and the balance between attack and defence.