It's been an awful exodus for Dortmund, probably the worst they've had. At least Kagawa, Gotze and Lewandowski left in separate seasons. Tuchel, bless his soul, has lost three of his best players all in one summer. And it could get worse if Aubameyang actually goes ahead and leaves. If that doesn't make you shed a tear for the manager, then you have no soul and need to watch more cartoons.
Out of all of their players who have gone, I've got to pick out the ball-playing center-back, who forms with Boateng, perhaps the most formidable central defensive partnership in the world. A player who has been part of the Dortmund fabric and so integral to their identity and success. None other than the man who looks like that actor you can't place the name of, Mats Hummels.
I bear no grudge towards Hummels, nor am I secretly throwing bucket-loads of shade at him for leaving Dortmund. He's going back to where it all started for him, where most of his family lives and place that is his true home. This isn't about the money for him. So Dortmund fans, put those pitchforks down...for now.
I'm simply here to throw salt in the wound and lament on how much of a miss this will be to Dortmund, because they've not only lost one of the best defenders in the game, but a very good player, and their captain. This is a departure that leaves many holes for Dortmund.
Let's take his defending, something that Hummels has somehow been criticized for as on a bad day, he can look very awkward, making stupid mistakes and his lack of speed being exposed by quicker, smarter attackers. Though, whenever he's been through a bad patch, he's always managed to play through it, getting back to his best. When he's at his best, Hummels reads the game like a children's book. Seeing everything, and being that dependable last line of defence when a dangerous counter-attack starts incoming like a tidal wave.
Then there is his ability on the ball. I believe that he is the best ball-playing defender in the world but I know Italians and Juve fans will claim Bonnucci would have something to say about that. Hey, it's my opinion, and I happen to think it's the right one. Hummels is incredible in possession and acts as an extra midfielder and even launches attacks, and has shown he has a little Pirlo and Iniesta in him with the kind of passes he's made.
Those two elements have been vital for Dortmund because of the way that they play. They're an aggressively offensive team, and throw almost everyone forward. So that means a lot of pressure on Hummels to be a smart defender and cut out any through-balls from counters launched when they are light at the back. Then his own contribution in possession is important because of the constant forward runs his teammates makes, which allows for him to play that important role of the extra midfielder who can commence attacks from deep.
The final but definitely not the least is they lost their captain, their leader. Just like Bart Simpson (or Phillip Lahm, whichever you prefer), he's the quiet one that leads the troops. Rather than barking out orders and screaming like Kahn, he prefers to do it on the pitch, with a quiet word and doing it all behind closed doors. Losing a your star player is always bad on a footballing level, but the designated leader hits the team far deeper on a psychological level.
That's a lot to lose all in one summer, and you've to got to feel for Tuchel. He didn' deserve this, and to find a player that gives you all that as a central defender is next to impossible. But he will try, because he has to and that's what he's paid to do. These things happen and as a manager you must always prepare yourself for such eventualities.
But can't someone cut Tuchel a break? HH
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