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Marco Reus scores goals, prepares goals - and takes care of the tactics
Photo:
Jan Huebner / imago images / Jan Huebner
It was only four months ago that Marco Reus' career threatened to hit another low point.
Borussia Dortmund had lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, the Champions League seemed out of reach for the club, which was dependent on international revenue, and Reus clearly showed the frustration at his substitution.
The captain was at the center of massive criticism.
Since then, BVB has won all Bundesliga and cup games.
Reus' part in the turnaround in Dortmund is huge.
He was directly involved in twelve goals in these eleven games.
The 32-year-old led the way through the difficult phase for the entire club.
The debate about the lack of leading players has fallen silent at BVB for the time being, also because Reus has been wise and reflective in interviews since his frustration.
And under the new coach Marco Rose it seems as if Reus has become even more important, as if there could be more high points instead of lows.
The EM waiver was a wise decision
Borussia got off to an excellent start into the season with a 5-2 win over Frankfurt. After his 1-0 goal, Reus is the fifth BVB professional in club history to score 100 goals in the Bundesliga. Now the Supercup against FC Bayern Munich is scheduled for the evening (8.30 p.m.; TV: Sat1 and Sky). The first battle of strength with the big rival takes place. BVB is slightly favored based on the impressions so far of this still young season - especially in front of 25,000 spectators in the Westfalenstadion.
With his decision to forego the European Championship, Reus himself laid the foundation for his good start to the season. For the first time since the 2015/2016 season, the offensive player was able to play a full year without a major injury. What would have spoken more in favor of participating in the European Championship, Reus used as a reason for his cancellation. His body needs rest.
It was much more a decision for BVB than against the national team.
When Rose asked to start training at the beginning of July, Reus had six weeks of vacation behind him.
If he - like his teammate Mats Hummels - had taken part in the European Championship, he would have joined three to four weeks later and the lack of fitness would probably have accompanied Reus throughout the first half of the season.
For comparison: Hummels is currently absent with knee problems and may not make his season debut until after the international break in September.
BVB has more speed in the game again
In addition to his own fitness, there is another factor: Reus was able to adapt to the changes due to the change of coach from day one.
Under Rose, BVB should - completely independent of the tactical system - press higher again, achieve early ball wins and, if successful, quickly create scoring opportunities with vertical passes.
Rose's game idea is reminiscent of the years under Jürgen Klopp, although this comparison is definitely not doing a new coach in Dortmund a favor.
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Successful debut as BVB coach: Marco Rose
Photo:
INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Under Rose's predecessor Lucien Favre, BVB had developed into a dominant possession team that tried to use the entire width of the pitch.
That worked against many opponents, but sometimes led to a lack of creativity and depth in the game.
Reus also suffered from this.
He was a favorite student of Favre and basically always played when he was fit.
But Reus often found it difficult against deep defenses.
He's not a dribbler who creates spaces.
He's not a classic playmaker.
Also due to his age, he is no longer able to go down every path.
Under Rose, the game is played faster, but also more central.
The full-backs have to take on more responsibility on the wings, but Reus, together with the other midfielders, can concentrate more on the spaces behind and next to striker Erling Haaland.
Reus changes the system against Frankfurt
Rose has also managed, whether consciously or unconsciously, to support Reus in the discussion that has been going on for years around BVB about a missing boss on the field.
Reus approached him in the second half against Frankfurt and asked for a system change.
"If the captain feels that way on the pitch, then we'll do it," said Rose in the ZDF sports studio.
Reus is no longer an extroverted player.
He will continue to have to move ahead primarily through performance in order to get his colleagues carried away.
He is not someone who sets so-called signs with fouls or disputes.
Rose knows that, but with such statements he wants to show how important Reus is for the ambitions of the club and for the functioning of the team, even without goals or templates.
Nevertheless, in Dortmund you are well advised to wait and see.
Victories, mostly even clear wins, on the first day of the game have been part of the standard program for years.
However, the first setbacks quickly followed.
And even with Reus there is no guarantee that the shape curve will be continued consistently.
His injury history is known, as is the fact that it takes longer than others to follow up on the previously shown performance.
In the coming week, the new national coach Hansi Flick will nominate his squad for the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Reus will then probably be there, Flick had praised the 44-time national player at his presentation, and Reus said after the win against Frankfurt that it was "always an honor to play for Germany".
At BVB you will watch the international matches with mixed feelings.
