By Sportswriter Oliver Trust
BERLIN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- When analyzing Borussia Dortmund, football pundits don't really need statistics to explain the club's crisis.
Only a year ago, proud fans spoke about their club's remarkable performance in the Champions League celebrating until late after having reached the last-eight.
But in spring 2018, Dortmund has only managed to win one of 10 international games and is struggling to qualify for the 2018/2019 Champions League.
A disastrous loss in the Europa League has followed the disappointing performance in the group stage of Europe's premier club competition.
The club has hit rock bottom and not only the future of coach Peter Stoeger is uncertain, the entire team seems to have no future in its current form.
Until then Stoeger has to deal with the club's fall. The team's performers can't provide answers. Borussia is said to have lost its identity.
Mario Goetze, the former wunderkind of German football, has become the symbol of the crisis as he trudged off the pitch head down knowing he was about to come in for some harsh criticism.
The crisis has reached a new level as Stoeger is criticizing the team's leaders.
"What Mario is giving is not what makes us happy," Stoeger said mentioning his team lacks players that are prepared to stand up and be counted. Goalkeeper Roman Buerki complained about the attitude within the team.
The Austrian is the club's third coach since May last season, but despite changes, the problems are continuing. Pundits say the club needs a relaunch.
The latest defeat against underdog RB Salzburg in the Europa League has minimized Stoeger's chances of being rewarded with a new contract. The Berlin-based tabloid Bild called Borussia's defeat against Salzburg one of the "biggest embarrassments in the club's history."
The latest results are causing growing frustration that is affecting the team's cornerstones. A club like Dortmund seems a little bit on the large size for Stoeger, Bild commented.
The Munich-based news-magazine accused the club leaders such as CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and sports director Michael Zorc of having made fundamental mistakes. The duo has failed to replace top quality players like Mats Hummels, Ilkay Guendogan, Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.?
