Disappointing finish to the season for Fortuna as they lost the 16th position on the last match day and have been relegated.
Fortuna’s results were too weak overall. Their old coach Friedhelm Funkel lost eleven of 16 games. New coach Uwe Rösler stabilised Fortuna, dragged them up to 16th position as Düsseldorf only lost five of 16 games under him. However, they still gave away too many points; they tied twelve times, more than any other Bundesliga side except for Schalke. Thus, Fortuna never managed to pass their direct competitors to leave the relegation zone.
On top of that, Fortuna had the weakest record on the road of all Bundesliga sides. Fortuna only won half as many away games as home games.
Under Funkel, Fortuna’s game was extremely dependent on top scorer Hennings, who scored the fifth-most goals of all Bundesliga players.
Rösler diversified Düsseldorf’s attacking game and made it more self-determined and less defensive: they moved up from an average of 40% possession per game under Funkel to around 50%. Moreover, winter acquisitions Skrzybski and Berisha as well as previously injured Kevin Stöger helped to improve Fortuna’s game. Still they ended up scoring the fewest goals of all teams.
Yet, thanks to his promising approach, Rösler will receive a second chance to rebuild Fortuna in the second division as he is supposed to stay. The management will also have to replace half the squad: the contracts of several players are expiring; others not want to play in the second division.
