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Under pressure against Stuttgart

21.01.2011, 20:15 Uhr von: Redaktion

It will all end in tears. No matter what is going to happen in those last sixteen matches of the 2010/2011 season, Dortmund fans will cry cry cry. Be it because the Schale is presented on the Friedensplatz sometime between April 2nd and May 14th 2011 or because the young guns have given it all away. The 3-1 walk past Neverkusen a week ago boosted the pressure even more. Borussia Dortmund now is 12 points clear of Hannover 96 and the odds-on favourite to win the Meisterschaft. But one step at a time. Stuttgart up next tomorrow.

The Swabonians won the league in 2007 under Armin Veh, who since then failed in Wolfsburg and now is in the midst of the Hamburg struggle to keep going. Veh was followed by Markus Babbel (now with Hertha BSC Berlin). Babbel was succeeded by Christian Gross. Gross got his walking papers during this season. The stab-in-the-back legend goes that Jens Keller was the driving force behind the sacking, something old BVB forward Fredi Bobic denies. Bobic, a mediocre TV pundit turned Sports Director, followed in the footsteps of long time Magath sidekick Horst Heldt. Heldt was hired by Magath right before the season and now is the league’s best paid mascot in Gelsenkirchen. The fans adore his glasses and believe he earns every Cent of the 2 Million € he earns in Gelsenkirchen. Back to Stuttgart where Jens Keller only lasted a few weeks. He took Stuttgart to the next stage of the Europa League and into the Round of the last 16 in the DFB-Pokal but also to the bottom of the league. Names where tossed around in Canstatt, the amazing Lucien Favre and Marcel Koller being the favourites until Bobic contacted Bruno Labbadia, who was sacked in Hamburg in April 2010. Do we need to tell you that it does not look too good for Stuttgart right now? Of course: They got a 1-0 home win against Mainz last week to lift their total points to 15. Despite those three points they are still 17th and will have to keep on fighting to avoid relegation this season.

Labbadia will have to do without Camoranesi. The 2006 World Cup winner with Italy only was transferred to Stuttgart before the season and now is on his way to sunny Spain. It also appears that former BVB and Liverpool legend Philipp Degen has grinned himself on the bench. Holding midfield Träsch still believes that Stuttgart “is not tittle worse than Borussia”. He can believe whatever he wants to believe but it is hard to believe he is not able to read the table. Super sub Martin Harnik will start on the bench again with the sole striker being Pogrebnyak.

Enough of VFB Stuttgart, let’s turn towards the young guns. For the first time this season we actually have some heavier injury trouble. A look at the sick bay this week: Kehl, Owomoyela, Zidan, Bender. With Kagawa still playing in the Asia Cup in Qatar and Götze fighting a bronchitis and Toni da Silva doubtful, Jürgen Klopp will have some serious thoughts on who and how to play Stuttgart in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday afternoon. Will the back four remain the same? Or will Hummels be pushed forward and be replaced by Santana in the full back position? Will we see ghostly Markus Feulner (10 minutes this season) or can da Silva make it? Will Super Lucas be fit again or will we see Lewandowski upfront again? No matter what happens: The capacity crowd will long for three points. It is a tough job sitting on top of the world with everyone starring at the young guns waiting for them to fall. The boys will need to focus on what they can do best. Sit back, wait and watch the opponents and then start slaughtering them. Hard enough. It is still a very long road to the title and the best way for us fans is to enjoy everything what is happening right now. We are on a once in a lifetime ride and if the road eventually gets a bit rocky, we shall not lose faith and support our team. The best young guns ever. Next stop: Westfalenstadion against Stuttgart. Do it again!