UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE2020-21
Duetotakepartintheirfifthstraight
pool stage, theSchwarz-Gelbenwill be
looking to crash through the glass ceiling
that has thwarted them in recent years.
SincelosingtoBayerninthe2013final,
Dortmund have tended to lose their
bearings in the knockout phase, unable
to do better than a couple of quarter-final
appearances in 2013-14 and 2016-17.
The Ruhr outfit will be most keen to
get last season’s round of16 elimination
to PSG out of their system. This really
was a tie they should have wrapped up.
In the first leg at home, they deserved
much more than a single-goal victory
(2-1) and in the return at the Parc des
Princes, Lucien Favre’s side never moved
out of second gear. Coach Favre and his
merry men can and must do better.
In a massive boost for the
Westfalenstadion side, 20-year-old
wing wizardJadon Sancho is staying
for another season. The London-born
youngster, who racked up 20 goals and
as many assists last term, had been
The heavyweights
In order to win, every part of a football
organisation – playing staff, boardroom,
coaches and fan-base – has to be on
the same page. Shame that Barca, so
used to being top dogs, appear anything
but united. For quite some time now, the
Catalan giants have been stumbling from
one crisis to another: terrible results,
culminating in the surrender of their
La Liga crown and 8-2 hammering by
Bayern in the Champions League; star
turn Lionel Messi trying and failing to
escape from his golden handcuffs; debts
piling up (recently announced at€488m);
fans demanding the head of president
Josep Maria Bartomeu and an extensive
cull of players.
This is the shambolic workplace new
coach Ronald Koeman has to operate in.
It’s a good thing Koeman is such a strong
character. In this atmosphere of panic and
civil war, he will have to be. As always at
Barca, Lionel Messi holds the key. Already
infuriated by Bartomeu’s stewardship, Leo
was even more irate on hearing that his
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Turning promise into deliverance
close friend Luis Suarez was declared
surplus to requirements, eventually to
be picked up by Atletico Madrid.
New signings such as the little
Bosnian midfield rhythm-setter Miralem
Pjanic (ex-Juventus), Portuguese wing
sensation Trincao (Braga) and right-back
Sergino Dest (Ajax) all are highly-talented
individuals. Unfortunately for them, they
have pitched up at exactly the wrong
time. Chaos and toxicity certainly will
not facilitate their integration.Is it time to dispense with Busquets?
For countless years, Sergio Busquets was
the unsung lynchpin who set the tempo,
masterly recycled possession and cleverly
read the game with a timely interception.
However his days of maximum efficiency
are now long gone. If Koeman’s insists
on a double-pivot, it would have to
feature Frenkie deJong and Pjanic.Do they have enough leaders?
In a word, no. While Barca boast many
players of world-class ability, they are
short of vocal, imposing characters who
are unwilling to let matters drift. It’s no
coincidence that they’ve twice crumbled
in recent years, folding in second-leg
horror shows against Roma and Liverpool.Can Griezmann turn things around?
Griezmann clearly has the skill-set to be
a success. The bottom line is that he has
to be played in his best position through
the middle. Stationing him on the left is
the original square peg in a round hole.heavily linked with a summer move
to Manchester United. However the
Red Devils were not willing to meet
Dortmund’s £100 million valuation. Cue
huge sighs of relief in Black-and-Yellow
land. Dortmund centre-back Mats
Hummels certainly was pleased to hear
the news. “In lots of games he (Sancho)
wastheonetomakethedifference.
His potential is limitless.”Will Brazilian starlet Reinier shine?
Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc
is convinced he has pulled off a coup in
sealing a 24-month deal for the creative
attacker from Real Madrid, describing the
teenager as “more or less the complete
player”. He can play as a number ten,
on either flank or even as a false nine.Where must Dortmund improve?
As a defensive unit, they must be more
co-ordinated and attentive to danger.
The unforced errors have to become
athingofthepastandtheircounter-
press has to function better as well.Is a change of shape on the cards?
Formuchoflastseason,Favreoptedfor
a three-man defence. Not that he has
given up on the concept of a back four.
“All the big teams use this set-up,” he
says, hinting that he was ready for a
rethink. A possible recalibration would
be a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a spot
freed for a genuine number ten.BARCELONA
Club in crisis
Staying...Sancho
remains at BVBCOACH
Ronald Koeman
Netherlands’ ever-
influential libero was
never going to say no
to Barca. He’s had
some tough jobs, but
compared to what he
now faces, those were
awalkinthepark.
KEYMAN
Lionel Messi
He’s frustrated and
thinks, deep down,
that he is wasting the
autumn of his career.
Buthe’sstillagenius
and may well see
the field of play as a
sanctuary to forget
his troubles.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Ansu Fati
Record-breaking is
the 17-year-old’s
stock in trade. Barca’s
youngest-ever La
Liga and Champions
League goalscorer.COACH
Lucien Favre
The Swiss technician
has a reputation as a
master tactician who
does not quite come
up to the mark in big
matches. In the last
year of his contract,
so very much needs
a strong showing to
silence his critics.
KEYMAN
Erling Haaland
“Nothing frightens
me,” claimed the
20-year-old after
joining Dortmund in
January. And why
would it when he can
pileupthegoalsin
industrial quantities.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Giovanni Reyna
After lots of cameos
last season, the USA
attacking midfielder
now looks a good bet
to be a regular starter.Messi...Can he put
the saga aside?