Champions for the second successive year, Dortmund were beaten just three times in their league campaign - by Hoffenheim, Hertha and Hannover all in the first few weeks of the season. Borussia went from week 6 to week 34 unbeaten which is 28 consecutive games undefeated. Following a third defeat in the first six weeks, Klopp’s marvels weren’t so marvellous as they plummeted to 11th place in the league. Yet, come end-of-season, the Champions had beaten all-comers in a canter, with their nearest rivals Bayern Munich 8 points adrift. Moreover, they collected a record number of points in a season – 81. Borussia aren’t as effective as Bayern Munich in European competitions mainly due to their lack of experience, but there’s no doubt about their effectiveness in the Bundeliga where they are without equal. Home advantage means little to the opposition when Dortmund are the visitors as Klopp’s star-studded outfit deploy their inimitable brand of attacking football effectively, irrespective of the venue. Neither have they been unduly handicapped by absenteeism due to injury or suspension. Incredibly, some of their best displays toward the end of the season came in the absence of top star Mario Gotze which goes to show the incredible strength in depth of top players in the squad. It is so difficult to select a player-of-the-season for Dortmund as half the team would stake a claim. Indeed, it was very much a team effort but with several outstanding individuals too. Young star of the future Mario Gotze would certainly be in the running had he not spent so much time sidelined through injury. Kagawa, Lewandowski, Barrios, Hummels, Kehl or Weidenfeller are all eligible but the Japanese sensation Kagawa just edges it. The nifty forward, who is moving to Manchester United, displayed all the necessary attributes of a top class professional with his commitment, distribution, turn of foot and finishing skills quite outstanding. On the subject of top players in abundance, Monchengladbach’s young star Marco Reus is joining Dortmund next season, so it would seem the sky’s the limit for Klopp’s high flyers – at least on paper. Dortmund ended their season as double winners, defeating Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup final by 5-2.
