Julian Brandt is up there with some of the gifted player at Borussia Dortmund, yet, recent inconsistency in performance has led to fans wanting him out of the club.
The Germany playmaker has faced mounting criticism from fans and pundits alike, primarily due to inconsistent performances and a perceived lack of leadership role similar to players like Florian Wirtz or Jamal Musiala at their respective clubs.
Despite his evident talent, Brandt’s inability to deliver consistently during pivotal moments has led to frustration among the club’s faithfuls, who have now had enough and calls for his departure.
In a X poll conducted by user, FB_granit, for fans of the club to give their opinions on which players should stay or leave in the summer, 86 percent of the more than 2000 voters suggested Brandt should leave the club.
Former German international Lothar Matthäus has been particularly vocal about Brandt’s shortcomings. Following a 2-1 defeat to Stuttgart in February, Matthäus criticized Brandt’s demeanor, despite the 28-year-old scoring the club’s only goal of the game.
“He has to give a sign on the Yellow Wall and say to himself: ‘Hey, did I screw that up?’ I coached the D-youth. A ten-year-old gets more annoyed than Julian Brandt, and that shouldn’t happen.” He said.
Similarly, ex-midfielder Didi Hamann expressed disappointment after Dortmund’s 2-0 loss to relegation threatened Bochum later in the same month, highlighting that the Wolfsburg Academy alumnus doesn’t step up and take responsibility during challenging periods.
Hamann remarked, “Brandt’s performance today was abysmal. He’s in his late twenties, has been with the club forever, and is one of the players you have to look up to.”
Are the Critics Harsh on Julian Brandt?
Borussia Dortmund haven’t been great this season and it would be unfair to pin it all on Brandt. Although he can do so much better, his environment has also contributed to the letdown – the club finds itself in bottom half of the league standing with eight games to go, that is no fault of one man.
The midfielder has himself acknowledged the team’s struggles and his role within it. In a post match interview one of their games, he admitted;
“We shot ourselves in the foot… We were sloppy and inconsistent in front of goal, and also in front of our own goal.”
BVB has the ninth worst defensive record in the league with 41 goals conceded in 26 games. With five clean sheets to join, of which only four teams have fewer.
Julian Brandt has scored three goals and provided five assists in 22 league matches, averaging a goal involvement of 0.46 per 90 minutes – only Serhou Guirassy and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens have had in more goals for the club in the competition.
While these numbers are respectable, they fall short of expectations for a player of his caliber. He was so much better in previous season, yet his environment hasn’t been the best it can be in the ongoing campaign either.
Amidst the criticism, Brandt remains a central figure at Dortmund. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl recently highlighted his contributions, noting that in 250 games, Brandt has accumulated 101 goal involvement.
However, Kehl also hinted at potential changes, stating that a significant squad overhaul might be necessary following a series of disappointing performances. Brandt may also be amongst those names, potentially.
In the end, Julian Brandt could leave the club in the summer as tempers continues to boil due to the subpar season, but there is a major competition of hope, the UEFA Champions League, where going one better than last season will see them emerge winners.
Brandt has been crucial in their run to the quarter-finals. Five assists so far, no player has had more at this stage of the competition. He will still be one of the main players in their quest to reach back-to-back finals as they take on Barcelona for a place in the semis.
Six seasons in Dortmund, whilst he has had offers to leave for more prominent clubs in last years, the former Bayer Leverkusen man, whose contract runs out in the summer of 2026, will not be short of suitors if made available in the summer, although it remains to be seen whether he’ll get a bigger move this time.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
