Addressing the elephants: Borussia Dortmund draw but rebuild must begin

Borussia Dortmund secured their first point of 2025 with ten men under an interim coach. For once, the team delivered what was demanded of them. Now the club hierarchy must follow suit.

Fans take aim at Borussia Dortmund’s board (Credit: Matt Ford)

"The problems aren’t stood on the touchline!" read the banner from the Borussia Dortmund ultras on the Südtribüne. Nevertheless, their team went into Saturday's home game against Werder Bremen under an eighth different head coach since the departure of Jürgen Klopp in 2015.

After Nuri Sahin was relieved of his duties in Bologna midweek, under-19 coach Mike Tullberg took interim charge of the Schwarzgelben with a back-to-basics approach. "We don't need excuses; we need players who are prepared to march," the 39-year-old Dane had demanded. "Full sprint, frothing at the mouth, knife between teeth."