Assessing Marco Rose’s Tenure at Borussia Dortmund: Tactics, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Early Concerns for Defensive Instability
From the outset of the 2021/22 season, Borussia Dortmund faced significant defensive frailties under Marco Rose’s management. Despite expectations that Rose would refine defensive organization—particularly during transitions—the team struggled immediately. In the first five Bundesliga games, Dortmund conceded a minimum of two goals per match, a clear indication that defensive solidity had not been established during the pre-season. This persistent weakness left the squad vulnerable both in open play and during set pieces.
Fragmented Tactical Vision and Team Cohesion
While Rose entered with well-articulated attacking ideas, their execution often fell short. Dortmund frequently appeared less like a unified collective and more like a cluster of talented individuals, each improvising rather than contributing to an orchestrated game plan. Key performers such as Julian Brandt, Marco Reus, Jude Bellingham, and Manuel Akanji delivered quality on the ball, but their actions seldom appeared the result of structured, rehearsed automatisms. The lack of tactical consistency from game to game made it difficult for the team to build chemistry or establish reliable patterns of play.
Attempts at Tactical Flexibility and Persistent Defensive Issues
Rose experimented with various tactical frameworks in hopes of patching defensive issues. Shifting to a back-three occasionally benefited attack-minded players like Raphael Guerreiro while accommodating a surplus of right-backs ill-suited to defending in wide areas. The system change shone in a commanding 6-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, offering attacking freedom to Brandt and Reus and improved defensive cover. However, even this adaptation did not resolve deep-rooted problems. With injuries sidelining important players such as Mats Hummels, Mahmoud Dahoud, and later goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, replacements lacked positional awareness and exacerbated transitional weaknesses.
Season Outcomes: Shortfalls in Competitions and Lingering Individualism
As the campaign progressed, Dortmund’s results brought little to celebrate. Exits from domestic and European competitions came sooner than anticipated. Whenever an opportunity arose to challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title, Dortmund stumbled. Unlike Lucien Favre and Thomas Tuchel, who each managed to recalibrate the team effectively in times of need, Rose only achieved incremental improvements. While he enhanced the counter-press and allowed for more adventurous attacking play, his initiatives often benefited individual players rather than fostering team-wide coherence or defensive stability.
Building for the Future: Strategic Recruitment and Leadership Change
Despite Rose’s exit, optimism lingered due to intelligent activity in the transfer market. New additions such as Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Karim Adeyemi suggested a shift toward players ready to fit both the club’s needs and Rose’s stylistic intentions. However, the board ultimately opted for a change in leadership, welcoming Edin Terzic back to the coaching role—a decision some viewed as a return to a more stable and club-aligned approach.
The Return of Edin Terzic: Tactical Philosophy and Impact
Edin Terzic, a familiar and trusted presence at the club, previously demonstrated the ability to instill tactical clarity and genuine team spirit. Under his short stewardship, Terzic crafted a well-balanced midfield trio—Dahoud as the deep-lying playmaker, Emre Can as an enforcer, and Bellingham as a dynamic box-to-box presence. This combination fostered both defensive resilience and attacking potency, even if possession statistics occasionally dropped below Dortmund’s typical standards. Terzic’s willingness to adapt and prioritize fundamentals enabled the squad to finish the previous term strongly, culminating in a DFB-Pokal triumph and a third-place Bundesliga finish.
Squad Evolution and Areas for Improvement
The summer saw Dortmund reinforce their squad further, securing Salih Özcan from FC Cologne—a player adept at setting tempo and providing cover in midfield. While not a direct replacement for the tough-tackling Axel Witsel, Özcan’s arrival was a step toward greater stability. Recovery and reintegration of right-back Mateu Morey, previously sidelined by injury but promising under Terzic, offered further hope. Yet questions remained around strengthening the right-back area, retaining key defenders like Akanji, and most crucially, reestablishing a cohesive tactical identity.
Outlook for the Upcoming Season
Despite the tumultuous end to Rose’s time in charge, the club entered the 2022/23 campaign with renewed depth, a clearer sense of direction, and hope for a sustained title challenge. The blend of new signings, tactical adaptability, and an emphasis on collective performance means Dortmund supporters have valid reasons for cautious optimism. Edin Terzic, with a more robust squad and experience at his side, has the tools required to restore Dortmund’s competitive edge and potentially mount a serious challenge for major honors.
A Final Word on Marco Rose’s Legacy at Dortmund
Marco Rose’s chapter at Dortmund may ultimately be remembered as a missed opportunity—a period of attractive attacking football overshadowed by defensive shortcomings and inconsistency. While he succeeded in extracting strong performances from certain individuals, the absence of a unified tactical identity prevented the team from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, some of the progress made on the training ground under Rose’s guidance could serve as foundations for future success under Terzic.
Conclusion
The shifting tides at Borussia Dortmund reflect the challenges and expectations that surround one of Germany’s most storied clubs. With a fresh managerial vision, targeted recruitment, and key players returning to fitness, Dortmund look poised for a season of renewed ambition. The hope among fans is that cohesion, tactical clarity, and resilience will define the Edin Terzic era, ushering in sustained progress both domestically and in Europe.
