April 15, 2022 was a day that would prove vital in the history of Borussia Dortmund as the charismatic manager Jürgen Klopp announced in a press conference that he will be leaving the Black and Yellow at the end of the season by stating that he was not the perfect man for this honorable job anymore. The news spread immediately and the hashtag ‘Klopp’ was trending top on Twitter. Players started to express their gratitude and speculations mounted as who could possibly replace the lovable Klopp at the Signal Iduna Park. Many names have been thrown as candidates but finally the likeliest and most obvious choice Thomas Tuchel was confirmed as the new man to take the ranks BVB.
It’s not difficult to point out the similarities between the two managers: both started their coaching careers at Mainz 05, have the same type of football philosophy and enthusiasm for the game, the same way of grooming their beard etc… But this doesn’t mean that their course as a Dortmund manager will turn out the same. Tuchel has arrived at a very critical stage. After a disappointing season, everyone expects BVB to get back into their fine form of recent years in which they have won two Bundesligas, one DFB Pokal and two Super Cups in addition to reaching the 2013 Champions League final. So it’s understandable that the 41 year old will be under immense pressure next season.
This was not the case when his predecessor arrived in 2008. By that time, Dortmund have long been absent from the Champions League and the Bundesliga title so the expectations were low unlike now. The possible departure of star players will not make the task any easier. Transfer rumors have already been circulating about who will follow Klopp out of Borussia Dortmund and who can be their replacements.
The unsettled captain Mats Hummels, who has been long linked with Manchester United, is one of the players who might leave the Bundesliga side. According to Sky Sports, team mate Ilkay Gündogan has already agreed a €30 million deal with the Red Devils. While players who endured a rather poor season like Ciro Immobile and Henerik Mkhitaryan are also other possible additions to the list of players who may bid a summer farewell to the Yellow Wall.
The ‘new’ Borussia Dortmund will be filled with youngsters rather than star players. Tuchel’s confidence in youth has been demonstrated in his previous club and he will be keen to bring that to his new home. Loaned out players like Maurice Litener, Jonas Hoffmann etc are set to return in the summer. Mainz’s 21 year old talented midfielder Johannes Geis could also join them, as a replacement for Gündogan.
With Sebastian Kehl’s retirement and Roman Weidenfeller’s aging and inconsistent season, new faces will arrive to take over the responsibility from these BVB legends who have been the symbol of the club for a long time. The team is in need of a change and this seems the hallmark of the Tuchel Dynasty. It will be a transitional period for BVB and it will be difficult but the fans and administration will always be behind their manager, as they have demonstrated on several occasions this season.
In the mean time, the club will look to finish the season with a Cup title and a Europa League spot as a final tribute to Klopp and as a way of putting this horrendous season behind. But the players know the task will not be easy. They will have to face last year’s DFB Pokal champions Bayern München in the semifinal on Tuesday and have couple of important games ahead of them in the Bundesliga.
Written by Brook Genene
Follow Brook on Twitter @brookbvb
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