BVB (3 - 1) VFB – 36th Minute
The Stuttgart coach stands on the sidelines watching the game closely, not giving any instructions. The assistant coach goes to stand next to him.
"This is bad, isn't it? And there's still 10 minutes until halftime." He sighs. "Even during halftime, what are we supposed to say in moments like this? They look lost out there."
"Sometimes in moments like this, we don't have to do much."
"What? But it could get worse if we just allow things to keep going like this."
"Maybe. But how will they learn if we keep telling them what to do when things go bad? I've already told them my tactics and made them aware of what they're coming up against. That's all I can do as their coach. This is part of nurturing young talent—allowing them to grow through mistakes and trials. That's how good players and good professionals are made. I agree that Dortmund's system is strong, and our players are mentally lost right now. But moments like this—where things aren't going to plan—are necessary for youth coaches like us. It's how we identify the men among boys, and see who's willing to carve a new path when their usual one is blocked."
The coach continues to stare ahead, the assistant coach with nothing else to say. He returns to the bench and calls a few players to warm up.
On the pitch, Stuttgart defends a loose ball and clears it out to the right wing. Speidel runs with the ball, but the Dortmund left-back wins it by pushing Speidel off.
Dortmund goes straight back on the attack, passing through Stuttgart's midfield again. The ball ends up with Timo on the edge of the box.
The defenders give him no space and pressure him, but Timo shrugs them off and takes another touch.
He shoots from outside the box, aiming straight at the goalkeeper. But the shot has so much power it bounces off the keeper.
Luckily for Stuttgart, a defender gets to the ball first and clears it toward the left wing. It bounces once as it approaches Leon.
Leon starts running with the ball, the right-back close behind. The defender catches up before Leon exits Stuttgart's half and slide tackles, hooking the ball away.
Leon falls to the ground and expects a foul, but the referee doesn't call it—he signals that the tackle was clean.
Leon punches the grass in frustration.
Stuttgart hasn't stopped Dortmund's attack since Leon's counter earlier in the half. And Dortmund's midfielders haven't stopped moving.
They frequently switch positions—one defensive midfielder moving to central mid, and vice versa with the others.
This confuses Stuttgart's midfield. They don't know who to mark and end up chasing shadows. It creates wide gaps that Dortmund's wingers exploit in advanced midfield areas.
It feels like Dortmund has an extra player on the pitch. And their movement gets sharper as the match goes on.
Stuttgart commits a foul, and play stops briefly. The midfielders huddle together, looking tired and worn out.
"I don't know... these guys just don't stop."
"Come on, just hang on. Five minutes until halftime—let's hold them until then."
The free kick is played into the box, but Stuttgart defends well and clears it. One of Dortmund's center-backs quickly retrieves it and drives forward.
He passes out to the left wing. The winger controls it with his right foot and whips a cross to the back post.
The ball looks dangerous—Timo is sprinting toward it, completely unmarked.
He stretches his foot to tap it into the net, but the ball bounces just before he strikes. After the bounce, his shot floats over the bar.
Timo yells in frustration at the missed chance.
Stuttgart begins a new build-up from the back. They bypass the midfield and push the ball out wide.
It reaches Speidel, who passes to Che—Che had drifted closer to the right wing. He receives it on the turn and starts a diagonal run toward the center.
A Stuttgart forward makes a run behind the defense, calling for a through ball—but Che uses him as a decoy. Both Dortmund center-backs bite.
Che drives into the open space ahead. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Leon in a foot race down the left with the right-back.
Che curls a trivela pass toward Leon, and both players chase it down. Leon gets there first and tries a sole chop to cut inside.
But the right-back had read the move early, sliding in and knocking the ball out of play with a last-ditch tackle.
Leon shakes his head in disappointment.
He's starting to feel the tension and discomfort of the right-back's presence on him. He starts thinking about the difference between himself and someone who represents Germany's national youth squad.
"I'm still not done yet. I'm not done."