News » Looking at the last two years

By Oliver Trust


BERLIN http://www.stlouisbluesteamstore.com/adidas-brian-sutter-jersey , March 18 (Xinhua) -- It might be tough news for Borussia Dortmund's fans around the world to take: But the 2013 Champions League finalist will disappear from football's international radar for a long time.


And more: After the 2011 and 2012 German champions failed to stop Juventus Turin in the round of the last 16 (1-20-3 Carlos Tevez 3rd79th and Alvaro Morata 70th) Wednesday evening, a complete re-start seems to be necessary to reanimate the German club that once was audacious enough to try to challenge German giants Bayern Munich, who is now the last German club among the last eight of this seasons Champions League.


For now Dortmund is not only far from being a competitive side on the international stage but in the domestic league too where they are languishing in 10th and well away from qualifying for Europe next year. And what was obvious against the deadly effective Juventus Turin, they are away from glorious Champions League moments of 2013 (4-1 against Real Madrid).


Dortmund, once regarded an innovative racing car, gives the impression of being a slow truck not powerful enough for football's fast lanes. Losing 0-3 (1-2 first leg) to Turin was no less than a public humiliation.


Looking at the Bundesliga, Dortmund does not have to think about Europe's best clubs as they have been overtaken by German clubs like VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke 04 and Borussia Moenchengladbach in their national league, not to speak of Bayern Munich.


Dortmund's coach Juergen Klopp will have to make fundamental changes in his squad and admit to having done a bad job when spending over 50 million euros before this season on players like Ciro Immobile, Adrian Ramos, Matthias Ginter and Kevin Kampl.


Looking at the last two years, Dortmund have spent over 118 million euros. The effect of the shopping tour is disillusioning. Ten years after the club was nearly bankrupt, another big challenge is waiting for the German side that once stood for attractive fast attacking football and an overwhelming amount of greed.


It wouldn't be a surprise if players like Immobile, Hendrik Mkhitaryan, Ramos, and maybe Ilkay Guendogan leave the club this summer. Dortmund won't be too disappointed about Immobile and Ramos, but Guendogan leaving would hurt them deeply. The midfielder with Turkish roots has until now refused to extend his contract despite a