Borussia Dortmund Under Marco Rose: Tactical Analysis, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Season Recap: Transition and New Leadership
The 2020-21 campaign was a rollercoaster for Borussia Dortmund. After consecutive near-misses in the Bundesliga under Lucien Favre, expectations were high. However, a slump in form saw Favre dismissed before Christmas. Interim coach Edin Terzic guided the side to a third-place league finish and secured the DFB-Pokal, marking the club’s first silverware since the Thomas Tuchel era. Despite that success, Terzic moved to a technical director role in the summer, with former Borussia Mönchengladbach manager Marco Rose brought in to take the reins.
Early Progress under Marco Rose: Inconsistencies and Missed Opportunities
Four months into Rose’s tenure, Dortmund found themselves searching for consistency. Knocked out of the UEFA Champions League and unable to capitalize on opportunities to leapfrog perennial champions Bayern Munich, the team lingered in second place. With the gap at the summit widening, the solution for Dortmund’s ambitions likely rests in shoring up their tactical structure and extracting peak performances from the current roster.
Preferred Tactical Shape: Navigating Formation Fluctuations
One of the core issues under Marco Rose has been uncertainty in formation. While tactical flexibility can be a strength, Rose’s frequent changes—from 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-2-2 to 4-4-2 diamond, 4-3-3, and 3-4-2-1—resulted in instability. Notably, Dortmund’s most effective displays have come in their traditional 4-2-3-1 setup, losing only once in five Bundesliga games with this formation, against Bayern Munich. Early attempts at a 4-4-2 diamond saw Erling Haaland marginalized out wide, weakening defensive transitions and diminishing attacking output. Returning to a 4-2-3-1 restored balance, making it the logical foundation for future lineups.
Midfield Dynamics: Jude Bellingham’s Role
A key reason for Rose’s tactical changes has been the search for Jude Bellingham’s optimal position. The versatile 18-year-old excelled previously as part of a midfield trio in 4-1-4-1 and 4-3-3 systems, supported by defensively-minded teammates like Emre Can and Mahmoud Dahoud. This structure freed Bellingham to attack and create without leaving the team vulnerable on the counter. Early-season experiments with an attacking midfielder alongside Bellingham in a diamond midfield proved costly, prompting Rose to revert to a more balanced setup.
Key Players: Attacking Stars and Defensive Stalwarts
While Bellingham’s emergence has been impressive, the talismanic figures remain Erling Haaland and club captain Marco Reus. Haaland’s output—13 goals and 5 assists in just 10 Bundesliga matches—underscores his status as one of football’s brightest stars. Marco Reus, often overlooked due to injuries, provides clever movement, creativity, and leadership. Julian Brandt has also flourished, regaining form after a subdued previous campaign, while new signings like Donyell Malen have begun adapting to the Bundesliga’s demands.
On the defensive end, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has added reliability, while Manuel Akanji’s evolution has made him the team’s most consistent center-back. Mats Hummels, though past his prime, contributes experience and tactical acumen, and Raphael Guerreiro’s attacking intent from left-back continues to be an asset. Right-back Thomas Meunier has mixed performances but benefits from increased attacking responsibility.
Build-Up Play: Circulation and Creativity from Deep
Marco Rose’s Dortmund aim for control through build-up play. The team boasts a 60.3% possession rate, second only to Bayern Munich. Typically building out in a 2+3 shape from the back, Dortmund’s center-backs—particularly Hummels and Akanji—are pivotal in advancing the ball. Hummels often attempts incisive long passes, especially from the left, while Akanji has emerged as an outstanding progressive passer, leading in passes into the final third.
The build-up frequently revolves around Marco Reus dropping deep to link play, with midfield partners like Axel Witsel and Mahmoud Dahoud offering composure under pressure. This dynamic shifts when another defensive midfielder is present, sometimes allowing Reus to stay advanced.
Attacking Patterns: Flexibility and Combination Play
Dortmund’s approach in possession thrives on variety and technical ability. The right side has grown in importance with the resurgence of Brandt, who is frequently joined by Meunier, Bellingham, and Reus for overloads and creative interplay. Attacks often build through close combinations and underlapping runs, with players rotating and interchanging to create space.
Despite a left-sided preference in past years, Rose’s iteration of Dortmund is more right-heavy, as few attackers display a natural inclination to hold wide on the left. Guerreiro, Malen, and Hazard mainly seek to drift or underlap, changed from earlier tactical trends in the club’s recent history.
Jude Bellingham’s Evolution: Central Pillar in Attack
Bellingham’s risk-taking and directness in possession set him apart. He excels in driving forward with the ball or making intelligent off-the-ball runs, often opening spaces for the likes of Reus and Haaland. The young Englishman has not only become a key contributor in goals and assists but also provides a unique balance of creativity and athleticism in midfield.
Erling Haaland’s Enhanced Role
Haaland remains the focal point up front, but Rose has adjusted his duties. Rather than chasing lost causes or only waiting for service, Haaland often drops deeper to facilitate play, enabling teammates like Brandt, Hazard, and Bellingham to move beyond him into scoring positions. His improved link-up play is reflected in a notable assist tally, further increasing Dortmund’s attacking unpredictability.
Defensive Organization: Pressing and Transition Challenges
Rose’s reputation for high-pressing football is evident, with Dortmund boasting one of the Bundesliga’s highest rates of successful pressure, particularly in counter-pressing scenarios. However, issues remain in both coordination and personnel. Inconsistent pressing shapes and a lack of pace in midfield and defence have left the team exposed, especially when injuries force tactical reshuffles.
Manuel Akanji has been crucial in defensive recoveries, leading the team in regaining possession after pressure. However, when either Akanji or Hummels is absent, the vulnerabilities are amplified—particularly with makeshift center-back partnerships and slow transitions.
Structural Weaknesses: Defensive Gaps and Squad Limitations
Dortmund continue to struggle with defensive solidity, particularly after turnovers deep in their own half. The defense often faces structural gaps, especially between center-backs and full-backs, made more severe by the team’s emphasis on expansive, positional rotations during build-up. Lack of depth and suitable replacements in central defense further compounds this fragility.
Conclusion: Outlook and Path Forward
While Marco Rose’s arrival brought initial optimism, Borussia Dortmund’s campaign has so far been defined by inconsistent results and persistent defensive struggles. The team excels in creative build-up, pressing, and attacking play—especially when all key players are available. However, the underlying reliance on star individuals and gaps in organizational structure hold the squad back from challenging Bayern Munich for league supremacy.
The club’s ambitions will require solutions—either in the form of tactical refinement, defensive reinforcements, or potentially new leadership. As things stand, second place is not enough for Dortmund fans eager to see the Bundesliga title return to the Westfalenstadion. The remainder of the season will be pivotal for Marco Rose and the club’s long-term direction.
