“If you can’t see this progress…”: Ricken hits back at BVB criticism | OneFootball

After one of the most stable phases in recent years, Borussia Dortmund is still facing criticism. Sporting director Lars Ricken responds clearly – and points to numbers at BVB that speak for themselves.

Sportingly, Borussia Dortmund is as stable as it hasn't been for a long time – and yet there is ongoing discussion about the style of play around BVB. The style under coach Niko Kovac, perceived as unspectacular, continues to draw critical voices. Sporting director Lars Ricken can only partially understand this debate.

In an interview with RTL and ntv, Ricken made it clear that the recurring criticism "sometimes annoys" him. The 49-year-old points especially to the sporting development of recent months. "If I look back a year, on the 21st matchday of last season we were 25 points behind Bayern, currently it's six. Anyone who doesn't see this development doesn't want to see it."

Indeed, Dortmund has noticeably stabilized under Kovac. After 21 matchdays, BVB has only conceded 20 goals – a top value in league comparison – and is unbeaten in 14 Bundesliga matches. Five consecutive wins further emphasize the positive trend. The team appears significantly more structured and disciplined defensively than in the previous season.

BVB boss Ricken points to the gap with FC Bayern Munich

However, Dortmund often buys this stability with pragmatism. The team repeatedly struggled playfully against teams from the lower half of the table, and creative solutions were sometimes scarce. Brilliant performances are rare; instead, patience, order, and efficiency dominate.

Ricken does not see this as a contradiction to their own ambitions. The development is clearly recognizable, emphasizes the sporting director – and the gap in the standings to FC Bayern Munich impressively demonstrates this. That the style does not always cause storms of enthusiasm is apparently accepted in Dortmund.

If BVB now manages to combine the newly gained defensive strength with more creativity in offensive play, the currently successful season could even become an extraordinary one. For Ricken, one thing is certain: The direction is right – even if it doesn't seem spectacular enough for everyone.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.