Marco Rose does not see an attitude problem at Borussia Dortmund. The BVB coach therefore deliberately says that he wants to work on the attitude – and not on the basic attitude. The numbers prove the 45-year-old right.
Some might think it’s quibbling when Marco Rose says that he wants to work on the attitude with his team, but that the attitude or even the mentality of his professionals is not a problem. Attitude, mindset, mentality – aren’t they all the same thing? Not in the 45-year-old’s definition.
By attitude, Rose means, on the one hand, reacting to setbacks and failures, and on the other, concentrating on the moment. How do I react to conceding goals or missing chances? How present am I in direct duels? These are the things the BVB coach wants – and needs – to work on more intensively with his team in the coming weeks and months. The most important thing for him is consistency – or in Rose’s parlance: sustainability – in the question of attitude.
Ten points after falling behind
BVB is already capable of reacting properly to proverbial blows to the neck – even if, as recently with the last-minute victory in Frankfurt (3:2 after 0:2), sometimes only with a time delay. The match against Eintracht, for example, was the first since the 5-3 win in Augsburg on 18 January 2020 in which Dortmund managed to turn a two-goal deficit into a victory. However, it was not the first in which they overturned a deficit.
BVB have picked up a total of ten points this Bundesliga season, although they were on course for zero points at one point: three wins (Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Wolfsburg) and one draw (Bochum) in nine games so far in which BVB have fallen behind. Only Hoffenheim (15 points), Cologne (12) and Frankfurt (11) have been more successful in overcoming deficits this season. Substitutes have also played a part in Borussia’s often late successes: BVB have already scored six wild card goals this season, only Hoffenheim (7) have more.
Rose pursues several approaches
The problem, however, is and remains that the Rose team falls behind so often – and often through self-inflicted mistakes – and thus makes life difficult for itself all too often. Changing that is one of the main tasks of the coming weeks.
How can this be achieved? Rose is taking several approaches. “They are grown-up boys, you can talk about it with them,” said the BVB coach in Frankfurt. “But there are also some forms of training where it’s about staying on the ball under pressure and finding open positions.” In addition to the necessary calm, details are also important. For example, playing the ball into the right foot of the teammate or separating yourself from the opponent early on as a pass receiver. “There are a thousand things – we are working on them. “
At best, the first results of this work can already be seen on Friday, when BVB meet SC Freiburg at home. Possibly even in front of spectators. On Tuesday, NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann announced that in future up to 750 fans will be allowed to attend Bundesliga matches. This will already apply from Thursday.