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TUCHEL’S GAMBLE ON DEMBÉLÉ A STROKE OF GENIUS

Modern day versatility the key

Long gone are the days a striker would be just that; someone who would put the ball in the back of the net. Now, every player must possess several key attributes if they want to succeed at the highest level. Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembélé is a prime example of what we can expect from the next generation of footballers. At just 19-years-old, the France international has played in every attacking position possible from deputising for Marco Reus on the left to excelling on the right flank, creating a great understanding with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Now, Dembélé is being played centrally – a move that perhaps BVB supporters certainly didn’t see coming.

In today’s modern game, the best footballers can play multiple roles. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can play anywhere in the final third, whilst other players have had a change in position completely. Jonas Hector of 1. FC Köln is just one prime example in the Bundesliga. He started out at left-back, but this season has seen the now Germany international play in centre-midfield, where he’s able to dictate the tempo.

At the time, Dembélé was coming to the Signal Iduna with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and İlkay Gündoğan still plying their trade for Dortmund. Their departures ultimately left Thomas Tuchel with a young, and perhaps inexperienced squad with the arrival of Emre Mor & Mikel Merino.

“In my mind, it was Ousmane to Mkhitaryan, to Gündoğan, to Reus, to Hummels, and I thought this is maybe the key player to put even more quality into the team,” Tuchel told Raphael Honigstein in an exclusive interview.

Although improving with every passing game, it’s important that Dembélé remains grounded with the comparisons to Ronaldo circulating – of which could ultimately stall his career, as it has done to others. Marko Marin who was described as the “German Messi” when he joined Chelsea from Werder Bremen in 2012 – whilst he is now playing his football out in Greece with Olympiacos.

Dembélé Taking Bundesliga by storm

At just 19-years-old, Dembélé has the world at his feet. He’s now the key protagonist in Tuchel’s side, arguably as important as Aubameyang. Dembélé’s moment of magic secured an important win for BVB against RB Leipzig. His skill to sail past defender Willi Orban was nothing short of brilliance. Poking the ball one way and going the other, his inch-perfect cross then found Aubameyang in the middle to earn his side three points against second-placed Leipzig.

Despite excelling on the right-flank, Borussia Dortmund head coach Tuchel did the unthinkable and moved him to new centre-midfield role in a bold move – which reaped rewards – turning out to be a stroke of genius. In the eight games that Dembélé has played through the middle, he’s scored three goals and assisted three, which contributed to the six goals and 14 assists he has in all competitions.

Since his €15 million move from Stade Rennais FC, Dembélé has assisted Aubameyang on six occasions in the Bundesliga, contributing to his 19 goals this season which ties him with Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

In the early stages of the season, the France international looked extremely raw given the fact he’s moving from a team such as Rennais, to one that came runners-up in the Champions League in 2013. Credit where it’s due, his minutes on the pitch and guidance of Tuchel has furthered his career, where he has come more disciplined at BVB.

Dembélé will often play alongside Gonzalo Castro or ahead of both the German and Julian Weigl, in a position where’s he’s able to dictate tempo. He had 7.83 take-ons in the first-half of the season whilst in 2017 this has gone down to 3.86 under the tutelage of Tuchel which improves his ball retention.

With Dortmund now up into third, Champions League qualification is looking a real possibility, which didn’t look likely following their form at the start of the campaign. With the ever-improving game from Dembélé, Dortmund are looking like a force to be reckoned with; and a team who can ultimately challenge for the Bundesliga next campaign and perhaps the Champions League in a couple of years.

Dortmund over European giants

Arriving from Stade Rennais FC in the summer, 19-year-old France international Dembélé has picked up where he left off in Ligue 1. His six goals and 14 assists across 32 games in all competitions is nothing short of magnificent for someone so young.

Under the management of Philippe Montanier and Rolland Courbis at Rennais, Dembélé played 29, scored 12 and assisted five – which ultimately led to Europe’s biggest clubs sending scouts to watch him week in, week out.

Choosing to join Borussia Dortmund ahead of super-clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Bundesliga counterparts Bayern Munich, Dembélé told Goal that his move was down to playing time.

“Yes, that was it and then of course the speech of the bosses I liked,” said the 19-year-old. “They told me that if I was good, I would play no matter what happened. I am very happy to be here and I do not regret my choice at all.”

Big boots to fill in Götze’s absence

With news that Mario Götze will face a lengthy spell on the side-lines, Dembélé’s importance to Borussia Dortmund has grown a significant deal over the past couple of days. At just 24-years-old, the German playmaker has been diagnosed with “metabolic disturbances” which don’t allow his muscles to recover as they should.

In a club statement, Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke stated that Götze was ruled out “for the time being” whilst he is “currently undergoing treatment.” Speaking to German publication Bild, Watzke also said that “it won’t be a short-term thing.”

After winning the World Cup for Germany in Brazil 2014, then Bayern Munich man Götze has somewhat fallen off the radar. His return to boyhood club Dortmund in the summer created controversy with several fans stating they didn’t want to see him in black and yellow again – but instead to play elsewhere.

Under Tuchel, Götze has played just 11 Bundesliga games, scoring one and assisting one in a period where the Germany international has looked extremely unfit, which prompted the investigation. Now, Dortmund need Dembélé more than ever in his new role, a decision which was a stroke of genius from the management at BVB.

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