Having finished the last Bundesliga season in tenth place, Fortuna Düsseldorf once again want to have a solid season and establish their place in the league’s middle tier. Headcoach Friedhelm Funkel, one of the most experienced coaches in Germany, faces a difficult task though, as the team’s shape changes. Especially the loss of Benito Raman and Dodi Lukebakio is not easy to compensate, bearing in mind that costly signings do not fit Düsseldorf’s budget. Therefore, the management decided to loan some players like Lewis Baker from Chelsea, Erik Thommy from Stuttgart and Bernard Tekpetey from Schalke. The only player costing them a transfer fee, Nana Ampomah from Beveren, was signed for an amount of four million Euros.
Given these circumstances, a functioning team with high tactical quality will be crucial in order to stay in the league. This tactical preview will be a tactical analysis of Düsseldorf’s pre-season games. We will examine the strengths and weaknesses of Düsseldorf and provide a scout report for the upcoming season based on their tactics.
Predicted formation and line-up
Friedhelm Funkel prefers a 4-2-3-1/4-1-4-1 formation, which he will probably not change throughout the season. Even though this is not fancy at all, it is a solid formation, which ensures that Düsseldorf stay compact. Very much like last season, Funkel prefers quick wingers who can break through thanks to their acceleration and speed. It is also an option to play Kenan Karaman up-front instead of Rouwen Hennings, as Nana Ampomah could then find his place in the starting XI. A system with two strikers, basically with both Karaman and Hennings up-front, is not very likely, as the midfield would open up too much in such a formation.
Defensive stability will be the key for Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf are a compact team, emphasizing defensive stability. Rarely, the team presses high. Instead, they focus on closing the centre and controlling the space.
Here, we have an example from a pre-season test against Eibar. While Düsseldorf’s sole striker does not put any pressure on the ball, five midfielders are behind the halfway line. The formation used here is a 4-1-4-1, with close gaps within the lines, but also between them. For the opponent, it is difficult to break through centrally.
