Dortmund in safe hands under trusty Tuchel
When Borussia Dortmund lost its beloved manager Jurgen Klopp, many feared the worst, but in stepped the mild mannered Thomas Tuchel, turning BVB from a club in crisis to a genuine title contender.
When a reserved Thomas Tuchel stumbled into his first Borussia Dortmund press conference sporting a comb over Donald Trump would be proud of, you would have been forgiven for underestimating him.
Let's face it, he hardly boasts the charisma of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, whose jovial smile, trademark glasses and quirky touchline antics drew adoration from fans all over.
But the critics are eating their words as Tuchel brought a ruthless German efficiency to a Borussia Dortmund that has managed 27 goals in its last nine matches.
The stats speak for themselves - Tuchel’s Dortmund has scored 98 goals in 40 Bundesliga matches, a better goals to games ratio than any other BVB manager in history, including the beloved Jurgen Klopp.
Sure, it’s still early days and Klopp had almost five times as many games under his belt at the club, but Tuchel should still be applauded for what he has done with the side so far.
He had big shoes to fill - it’s never easy taking over from a manager loved by fans and players alike and had to make some crucial signings after the club suffered a mass exodus of some of its best players.
Since taking over, Tuchel has steadied the ship with some shrewd signings, including the revival of Shinji Kagawa, Andre Schuurle, and Sebastian Rode as Dortmund went from a club in crisis to a genuine title contender in months.
The 43 year-old has the perfect blend of experience and exciting young talent, with Tuchel unearthing the likes of 19 year-old star Ousmane Dembele, who has captivated Signal Iduna Park since signing from Rennes in the off-season.
It's yet to be seen if Tuchel can build a Dortmund dynasty, but the way he has graced his way through a difficult transition suggests Bayern Munich will have a fight on its hands at the summit of German football for years to come.