“Doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, doesn’t matter what happens today – on Saturday it counts.”
In typical fashion, the vocal Borussia Dortmund fans have left sinking head coach Peter Bosz in no doubt about the stakes for this latest instalment of the Revierderby versus Schalke.
Rather than concentrate on Tuesday’s meeting with Tottenham and the expected elimination from the Champions League’s group stages which followed after another loss, a fourth in six harrowing fixtures, this was the forthright message delivered to the Dutchman from the Sudtribune.
"Doesn't matter what happened yesterday, doesn't matter what happens today - on Saturday it counts."
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) November 21, 2017
Banner in front of Dortmund's Südtribüne before tonight's game v Spurs. BVB play Schalke in the Revierderby on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/vPI6BmJ15L
The banner said it all about a time of reducing expectations and rumours of an impending dismissal for the man poached from Ajax.
Saturday’s fight for Ruhr supremacy could provide both the cure to all ails, or an unforgivable stain on a tumultuous reign which began with such positivity.
In this winter of BVB’s discontent, it is easy to forget the immediacy of Bosz’s impact.
A counter-pressing style redolent of celebrated predecessors Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel appeared to make him the perfect fit as a five-point lead in the Bundesliga and dominant goal difference of +19 was recorded by September 30. Then the wheels, spectacularly, fell off for Bosz.
A rot catalysed by last month’s 3-2 home defeat to RB Leipzig has also included star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang going four games without a goal and being banned for persistent internal rule breaking, Germany defensive midfielder Julian Weigl suffer persistent – and critical – losses of concentration which belie his soaring reputation plus Switzerland goalkeeper Roman Burki continue to provide bloopers.
Dortmund are now fifth in the Bundesliga having led the charge at the start of the season
The squad’s brittle confidence was on show again in midweek. After they deservedly went in ahead at the break following a best performance since September, from the moment Harry Kane equalised in the 49th minute they appeared utterly helpless.
Throughout this time, Bosz has scrambled for a solution. An ideologue first remained welded to the Dutch principles of a high defensive line and constant possession, prior to failed attempts to play deeper against the likes of Bayern Munich and now Spurs.
These stabs only appear to have further confused players whose minds were already fried in the hothouse final months of Tuchel’s disintegrating two-year spell.
But should this precipitous drop even be a surprise? The Dutch principles of ‘totalvoetbal’ have suffered critical blows after the nation’s successive failures to make tournaments, with high-profile disciples such as Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman appearing badly out of step at United and Everton.
Ronald Koeman was sacked by Everton last month
The Ajax stint also stands out in an otherwise-undistinguished coaching career spent scrambling around the Netherlands and Israel. Does he possess the reserves to come through this?
Worryingly for Bosz and BVB, they could not be playing Schalke at a worst time. Inspired by the brave decision to put 32-year-old Domenico Tedesco in charge, they have left Hamburg behind in the Bundesliga’s basketcase.
In contrast to their Ruhr rivals, an uncertain beginning has flourished into a run of four wins and one draw to put them second.
The prospect of blooming Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka let loose against them will strike fear into the hearts of even the most belligerent Dortmund fans.
With enthusiasm waning and doubts growing, Bosz surely cannot survive disappointing the Sudtribune again. He has to make this one ‘count’.
