5 clubs who should sack their manager this summer
With the season nearing its very end, the fortunes of several popular clubs across Europe have been mixed this year. With the winners of 4 of the Top-5 leagues all but handed the trophy (except Serie A), this season has had its fair share of twists and turns.
In some cases, the failure of the club can be attributed to its players - either they haven't had time to adapt to the needs of the club or are just not the right fit for the playing style of the club. But sometimes, the blame rests right on the shoulders of their managers.
Come the summer, some clubs will be offloading the men in charge, and will be on the lookout for new managers - managers who they think will be the final piece of the puzzle. Just like every year, this year too, there are a few clubs who have been seriously let down by the person at the helm.
Here's a look at 5 such clubs who should sack their manager in the summer if they want a different fortune in the following season:
#5 Borussia Dortmund
Gone are the days when Borussia Dortmund were a force to reckon with under the brilliant Thomas Tuchel. Since the German departed after winning the DFB Pokal Cup, BVB have won less than 50% of their games in the league and are currently in the 3rd position.
Not all of this is on Peter Stoger - their current manager. Their manager at the start of the season was Peter Bosz, appointed from Ajax after his impressive run in the UEFA Europa League the previous season. It turned out to be a nightmarish appointment as Dortmund won only 8 of the 24 matches under the Dutch manager.
In the December of 2017, Stoger was appointed on the basis of his stint at FC Koln. FC Koln had sacked him after the team had their worst ever start to a Bundesliga season - 3 wins out of the first 14 games - and also being knocked out of the Europa League in the group stages.
Since then, Stoger has done reasonably well at Dortmund. They are just 1 point behind Schalke 04 in the league and have a good chance of finishing as runners-up. But they have been knocked out of the Europa League at the hands of RB Salzburg, and will have to endure a trophyless season.
Their overall play has deteriorated as well, mostly because of the loss of a few key players over the course of the season - Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being the most notable ones. Rather than the quick-fire passes they were notorious for, their tactic now is just kicking the ball up-field and hoping that Michy Batshuayi is at the receiving end.
In spite of the losses, Dortmund have a solid young squad that can develop into a formidable team, and their top priority of the season should be getting a manager who recognises the talent and plays to their strength.