Bundesliga: That’s why Dortmund is not a top team | Column by SPORT1 expert Stefan Effenberg

First of all, I would like to send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Dr. Send Felix Brych. That was really bitter – and then in his record game. We had him here last week (in a double pass, editor’s note), he radiated pure joy. Now he is out of action with a torn cruciate ligament, which at his age means he will be out of action for between six and nine months. Of course I hope that he comes back and breaks a few more records.

But now to the sport and thus to Borussia Dortmund. Yes, Edin Terzić’s team caused quite a spectacle against Borussia Mönchengladbach. And also yes: one could say that they showed morality. Being 2-0 down after almost 30 minutes and then turning the game around before half-time is a strong achievement.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day it remains that the Dortmund team once again showed their two faces. For a top team, they simply have too many ups and downs in the game. Normally, a title contender is characterized by stability throughout the season. However, I don’t see that at BVB.

On the other hand, they have two more points than last season at this point. Terzić demanded that people want to be less sexy and more successful. On paper, the plan seems to be working.

But in ten days we will definitely know what it looks like. Then they have the Champions League, the Bundesliga Leipzig and the Stuttgart Cup behind them. Then we can say more about Dortmund.

What you can already say, however, is that VfB Stuttgart is really fun. Six months ago, the Swabians had to go through the relegation emergency exit to avoid the fourth relegation in the club’s history. They are now in third place and are preparing to be the big surprise of the season.

They defend very offensively and move up quickly. They also have strong players on offense who make the difference. I can only praise her. They are also incredibly stable. If they keep performing like this, they can stay on top until the end.

Sebastian Hoeneß played a large part in this. He finds exactly the right words for the boys. Communication is very important. Every player is different. But I think he does it perfectly. Communication is the be-all and end-all.

As a result, they quickly grew together as a team and now present themselves accordingly. You also saw that against Eintracht Frankfurt. Deniz Undav scores VfB’s victory with his two goals and Serhou Guirassy is almost happier on the bench than the goalscorer himself. It’s just right in the team.

That’s why I don’t think Stuttgart will have a big slump this season. Even the absence from the African and Asian Championships will not throw the Stuttgart team off course. On the one hand, you have the opportunity to retrofit in winter, and on the other hand, they are so stable that they will stay on course.

Unfortunately, the DFB team is currently also following the course. I don’t want to get upset about the games against Austria and Turkey. You just have to say: We are currently not in a position to win against teams like that. That’s the reality. We have arrived there, and you have to understand that. These are the opponents we can’t beat at the moment because we’re no better.

I cannot answer whether Julian Nagelsmann is the right man to lead the national team back to its former strength. But it is striking that Rudi Völler wins against France with the same players. The team showed all the virtues that are always talked about: commitment, will and greed.

Völler simply has the right approach. You can also see this in the interviews. When Völler speaks, I hear him because I believe what he says. This is exactly what the players need in the current situation.

Völler would teach them the simple ABCs of football again: commitment, duels, defense, team spirit. If they can manage all that, we can look forward to the 2024 European Championship.

Stefan Effenberg won the Champions League with FC Bayern in 2001. With Bayern and Borussia Mönchengladbach he also became German champion and cup winner several times. The 55-year-old has been part of the permanent team of experts at STAHLWERK Doppelpass on SPORT1 since summer 2018.