Borussia Dortmund-Manchester City: Different Football Philosophies

Tuesday’s Champions League match-up between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City is the type of match-up that makes football such a great game. It highlights the different philosophies and styles that exist within the beautiful game.

Borussia Dortmund’s philosophy around football involves developing youth talent. The Dortmund system has given the rest of the football world some brilliant talent – names like Haaland, Pulisic, and Gotze. Their emphasis on developing young players, and giving them the opportunity to play, allows them to stay competitive and compete in the Champions League.

Manchester City has a different philosophy of football. In 2008, the Abu Dhabi United Group began investing heavily in the team and has given the supporters a lot to cheer about. Four Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola. A domestic treble in 2018-2019. This success comes from the fact that they can buy almost any player they want – like how they signed Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this offseason.

Haaland has performed magically for Manchester City in all competitions. Manchester City supporters are hoping that he can get them over the hump on the one trophy they’ve been missing out on – the Champions League trophy.

Manchester City: Goliath on a Quest

Manchester City has had a ton of domestic success but has struggled to win the Champions League. They have played in the competition for 12 consecutive seasons, and have made the knockout stages 10 years straight.

Tuesday’s match-up against Borussia Dortmund will be Erling Haaland’s first time returning to Dortmund since he left in the summer transfer window. He’s off to a flying start in all competitions, with five goals in three matches in Champions League, and 17(!) in the Premier League.

Haaland will have an advantage over most club footballers this year – Norway did not qualify for the World Cup, so Haaland’s focus will be only on club football this year. Manchester City fans are hopeful that the energy he will save on the World Cup break will propel them into the final stages of the Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund: Perpetual Fountain of Youth

Coming into this match, Borussia Dortmund needs 2 points to ensure that they go onto the knockout rounds. While they could go for the win here, a draw would be enough depending on the results of Sevilla v Copenhagen. Dortmund has reached the knockout stages of the Champions League four out of the last 5 years.

On the Dortmund side of the ball, keep an eye on teenage midfielder Jude Bellingham. An English international, Bellingham came to Dortmund because of their youth system, and the promise of regular playing time for youth players on the first team.

Bellingham has scored in four consecutive Champions League match-ups, joining Haaland and Mbappe as the only teenagers to have scored in four consecutive Champions League match-ups. Bellingham has also been the subject of multiple transfer rumors among major clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Manchester City.