Despite enduring another turbulent domestic season, Borussia Dortmund will draw on the emotional highs of last year’s remarkable European run as they prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona.
Last season, Dortmund finished a disappointing fifth in the Bundesliga—their lowest league position in a decade—but stunned the continent with a run to the Champions League final, where they ultimately fell 2-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley after a spirited performance.
That campaign saw them overcome European giants such as Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Newcastle, and PSV Eindhoven.
This year, however, the team finds itself languishing in eighth place in the Bundesliga, at serious risk of missing out on Champions League qualification for just the second time since the 2010-11 season.
Yet once again, Dortmund have brought their best form to the European stage, including a 7-1 rout of Celtic at home and an impressive 3-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon away. Their reward: a place in the final eight and a clash with Hansi Flick’s resurgent Barcelona.
The two sides met in the group stage back in December, where Dortmund narrowly lost 3-2 to a late Ferran Torres goal in the 86th minute.
Managing Emotion: A Crucial Factor
World Cup winner and former Bayern Munich player and coach Jürgen Klinsmann believes Dortmund’s struggles—both domestically and in last year’s Champions League final—are not due to a lack of talent, but rather emotional instability.
Speaking to AFP and other media on Monday, Klinsmann said Dortmund’s ability to control their emotions will be critical in determining how far they can go.
“Dortmund have all the potential in the world to challenge for major titles,” he said. “In last year’s final against Real Madrid, they showed they belong among Europe’s elite.”
“But then you see this inconsistency, especially in the league, and you start to wonder.”
Describing the club as “a very emotional place,” Klinsmann added, “When things don’t go according to plan—like this season—they struggle to stay emotionally composed.”
Reflecting on the Wembley final, Klinsmann remarked: “I thought they were the better side in the first half. They should’ve won. But then they got nervous. They realized they might actually beat Real Madrid—and that emotional weight got to them.”
“It’s something the club continues to wrestle with, because the passion and pressure are immense.”
Kovac Instills Discipline
Following December’s loss to Barcelona, then-coach Nuri Sahin expressed frustration over his team's erratic performances, admitting he was “boiling inside.” He was dismissed in January and replaced by the more pragmatic Niko Kovac.
Kovac, known for his disciplined and no-nonsense approach, appears to have steadied the ship. Dortmund have won three of their last four matches under his guidance, benefitting from a simplified and more structured style.
They’ll need every bit of that discipline to contain Barcelona’s prolific attack—Europe’s most potent this season, with 83 goals across all competitions.
Leading the charge is none other than Robert Lewandowski, the former Dortmund striker who has scored a staggering 27 goals in 27 appearances against his old club—more than against any other team.
Dortmund’s defensive task will be even tougher without standout centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn meniscus. His absence is a major blow, as he has been one of the team’s top performers this year alongside in-form striker Serhou Guirassy.
Further concerns remain over fellow defender Niklas Süle, who is doubtful after missing two games due to a hematoma.
As Dortmund head into a crucial tie with their European hopes hanging in the balance, they'll need to summon not only quality and discipline—but the right emotional balance to see them through.
