Have we seen the best of Klopp’s ‘project’?
In 2010/11 Dortmund came from seemingly nowhere to win the
Bundesliga. The following season they did the double and improved on that
previous season. They evolved again and last season were even better. They were Europe's most exciting and scintillating 'Cinderella' story and came so close to lifting the Champions League. Their battle between Bayern was the Prince and the Paupers. Incredibly In a matter of years Klopp
had developed a team, had put together a ‘project’ which became one of Europe’s
finest. What a story.
The worry however was how long this project could continue. This season isn’t a crisis, far from it, yet it is evident that Klopp has not been able to improve on what he had last season. One wonders (and worries) if Klopp can ever achieve the levels he reached last season again.
The worry however was how long this project could continue. This season isn’t a crisis, far from it, yet it is evident that Klopp has not been able to improve on what he had last season. One wonders (and worries) if Klopp can ever achieve the levels he reached last season again.
Dortmund currently lie second in the Bundesliga, a point behind Bayern and second in their
Champions League group on six points. In a matter of years the club is now regarded as a Champions League contender and one of Europe's finest teams.
It’s incredible to think that Klopp has taken a club on the brink of bankruptcy to one of Europe’s finest, and all with a ‘sustainable’ model of development. It is what modern football should be. They develop youngsters and scout smartly for cheap talent. And importantly they take this talent and make top players from it.
Players like Sahin, Kagawa, Lewandowksi, Piszczek Blaszczykowski Hummels, Subotic, Gundogan and Gotze have all excelled through the tutelage of Klopp. Without question he has become one of Europe’s best coaches and motivators of people. He values character, professionalism and determination to work hard. His model is simple, yet ruthlessly effective.
As Dortmund rose to the top they took the interest of some of Europe's finest clubs who wanted to take their stars away. They lost Sahin, Barrios and Kagawa, the original key members of the squad. This was a concern yet Klopp was able to replace them with Gundogan, Reus, Gotze and Lewandowski. It was a seamless transition and one which took the club forward.
The question however was what would happen next time, what would happen when the club lost a player like Lewandowski, a player who had become one of Europe’s finest forwards? This was a dilemma. Yet they never saw Gotze leaving, not now at least.
The jewel taken to Bavaria
The club was rocked by the announcement of their ‘jewel’ agreeing to join their rivals. It was a shock, an incredible situation which took everyone by surprise. It had the potential to damage the clubs focus (the timing was right before the club faced Madrid in the semi-finals). In fact it inspired them to reach new heights and propel them to the final (which Gotze was missing for).
However Dortmund not only lost their creative midfielder, they lost a piece of their soul. Gotze represented Dortmund like no other player, he was the product of their academy, there since nine years old. He was Dortmund’s future, the pillar on which they could grow and succeed. He was their Messi type player, someone to revolve their style and team around. And yet he was tempted away by the Bavarian giants.
To replace Gotze was not as easy as the others. Who else could fill the emotional void that he left? This is the problem now. Yes the arrivals of Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang are good signings, one offers the creativity and playmaking ability which Gotze brought whereas Aubameyang brings such speed and athleticism that he must frighten the opposition and who suits Dortmund’s ‘counter-pressing’ style excellently.
It’s incredible to think that Klopp has taken a club on the brink of bankruptcy to one of Europe’s finest, and all with a ‘sustainable’ model of development. It is what modern football should be. They develop youngsters and scout smartly for cheap talent. And importantly they take this talent and make top players from it.
Players like Sahin, Kagawa, Lewandowksi, Piszczek Blaszczykowski Hummels, Subotic, Gundogan and Gotze have all excelled through the tutelage of Klopp. Without question he has become one of Europe’s best coaches and motivators of people. He values character, professionalism and determination to work hard. His model is simple, yet ruthlessly effective.
As Dortmund rose to the top they took the interest of some of Europe's finest clubs who wanted to take their stars away. They lost Sahin, Barrios and Kagawa, the original key members of the squad. This was a concern yet Klopp was able to replace them with Gundogan, Reus, Gotze and Lewandowski. It was a seamless transition and one which took the club forward.
The question however was what would happen next time, what would happen when the club lost a player like Lewandowski, a player who had become one of Europe’s finest forwards? This was a dilemma. Yet they never saw Gotze leaving, not now at least.
The jewel taken to Bavaria
The club was rocked by the announcement of their ‘jewel’ agreeing to join their rivals. It was a shock, an incredible situation which took everyone by surprise. It had the potential to damage the clubs focus (the timing was right before the club faced Madrid in the semi-finals). In fact it inspired them to reach new heights and propel them to the final (which Gotze was missing for).
However Dortmund not only lost their creative midfielder, they lost a piece of their soul. Gotze represented Dortmund like no other player, he was the product of their academy, there since nine years old. He was Dortmund’s future, the pillar on which they could grow and succeed. He was their Messi type player, someone to revolve their style and team around. And yet he was tempted away by the Bavarian giants.
To replace Gotze was not as easy as the others. Who else could fill the emotional void that he left? This is the problem now. Yes the arrivals of Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang are good signings, one offers the creativity and playmaking ability which Gotze brought whereas Aubameyang brings such speed and athleticism that he must frighten the opposition and who suits Dortmund’s ‘counter-pressing’ style excellently.
Yet watching Dortmund this season points towards a slight 'regress' of style. They have moved back to more rigid 4-2-3-1 style. Losing Gotze has taken away the fluidity which he, Reus and Blaszczykowski brought last season. Gotze made the team better, he enhanced the talents of Lewandowski and Reus. The club was getting so close to nearing ‘perfection’, they had come so far. And just like that Klopp’s ‘project’ went backwards.
You simply cannot pick up a Gotze and so this summer proved. Eriksen may have offered something, yet he does not have Gotze’s movement and agility. In fact I would argue that Gotze is the best young playmaker (modern version) in world football. To replace him was near impossible.
Klopp's idolising of Pep comes back to haunt
Bayern either wanted Gotze's talents to help their style or they decided to take the soul from their rivals. Evidently they did both. Yet it's incredible that Gotze chose to abandon his coach, mentor, club and home. He chose their rivals, which was a bitter pill to swallow.
Perhaps Klopp is guilty of pushing his stars into the arms of Bayern and their new coach Pep Guardiola. As Dortmund were on their rise Klopp would use footage of Barca and show how united and passionate they were. He used Barca's unity as a model for his team.
“[They celebrate each goal] like it's the first they've ever scored. It's the perfect thing to show my team,” Klopp reflected this week. “I do it very often. I show them photographs of how Barcelona celebrate."It worked. Yet one imagines that those players looked at Barca and thought, "wow, I would love to work with Guardiola" and that is what happened with Gotze (and Lewandowski). Klopp inadvertently pushed his stars into the arms of his rivals.
And now we are at a stage where both Dortmund and Gotze are worse off. Dortmund miss Gotze and it has not been a great start for Gotze in a team where competition for places is frightening. Can he get a regular first team and enhance his development and become world class, something he would have been guaranteed at Dortmund. Was it selfish or naïve? Either way Klopp’s project has suffered because of it.
Klopp's (stuttering) project
What is done is done of course and so now Klopp must move
on. The club’s beautiful season last year has suffered due to Gotze’s exit, the
constant rumours of Lewandowski’s departure and the injuries to key members
like Piszczek and Gundogan has hampered the side. And yet they are doing well in the Bundesliga and look favourites to progress from their Champions League group.
However this is not the side which captivated hearts and minds last season. Yes they are playing well and winning games yet the performances are not as fluid as last season. This makes Dortmund’s challenge this season all the more intriguing and fascinating. This is where we can see the true merits of Klopp’s talents as coach, he has had to deal with setbacks and transition before yet not when so much pressure and expectation was on his club. The world is now watching Dortmund and perhaps the outburst of anger versus Napoli was a sign of the pressure on him and his side.
He says this the most exciting ‘project’ in Europe and in many ways he is correct. Yet how long will he perservere with a project which mirrors one like Arsenal’s this past decade? A development school for the rich clubs who cherry pick the best players, leaving the club ‘competitive’ yet never truly able to compete or succeed.
Klopp has proven more than capable of taking Dortmund to the top, now his challenge is to keep them there while trying to stop the prying eyes of Europe’s wealthy clubs from taking his stars away once again.
However this is not the side which captivated hearts and minds last season. Yes they are playing well and winning games yet the performances are not as fluid as last season. This makes Dortmund’s challenge this season all the more intriguing and fascinating. This is where we can see the true merits of Klopp’s talents as coach, he has had to deal with setbacks and transition before yet not when so much pressure and expectation was on his club. The world is now watching Dortmund and perhaps the outburst of anger versus Napoli was a sign of the pressure on him and his side.
He says this the most exciting ‘project’ in Europe and in many ways he is correct. Yet how long will he perservere with a project which mirrors one like Arsenal’s this past decade? A development school for the rich clubs who cherry pick the best players, leaving the club ‘competitive’ yet never truly able to compete or succeed.
Klopp has proven more than capable of taking Dortmund to the top, now his challenge is to keep them there while trying to stop the prying eyes of Europe’s wealthy clubs from taking his stars away once again.
He has done a remarkable job and the fact this
blog is writing an article pondering if Dortmund are to be considered one of
Europe’s best clubs says a lot about the work he has done. It is just a shame
that Gotze, the jewel, the soul, was taken away from such an exciting project.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
The blog is delighted to announce that The Whitehouse Address has been nominated for the finals of the Football Blogging Awards! I need your support once again to make sure I actually win!
To vote tweet out on Twitter >> "I am voting in @TheFBAs for @The_W_Address as the Best #Male Blog"
Thanks guys!
#TheWayForward
The blog is delighted to announce that The Whitehouse Address has been nominated for the finals of the Football Blogging Awards! I need your support once again to make sure I actually win!To vote tweet out on Twitter >> "I am voting in @TheFBAs for @The_W_Address as the Best #Male Blog"
Thanks guys!
#TheWayForward
No comments:
Post a Comment