Why Borussia Dortmund Will Be Rewarded for Their Backing of Jurgen Klopp

On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund's star players will return from international duty after a full two weeks of travelling, sleeping and playing football in every corner of the world to face Paderborn in the Bundesliga. 

There, they will attempt to pick up all three points from this season's promoted side and continue their return to form. Jurgen Klopp has kept his spot as head coach, despite losing seven of their opening 11 games in the league, which should prove vital to this club's turning around. 

The charismatic coach was never in any fear of losing his job at the Westfalenstadion. He has moulded the very club before him, knowing very well that his loyal players would rather resign than see him go. So too would chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke and the 80,000 fans who cheer him every week, regardless of the result. 

Yet, there is a lesson in Dortmund's reluctance to conform to modern reasoning—to stand true to their man and wait for that first win to come. This club will now undoubtedly be rewarded with an upturn in form because they stood by Klopp. 

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

The benefits of sticking by a manager through thick and thin have been clear to see throughout the German top division for a number of years, as coaches such as Thomas Tuchel at Mainz and Lucien Favre at Gladbach have clearly demonstrated. 

In a league that puts so much emphasis on nurturing young players, a similar ethos regarding the managers in charge of clubs is clearly vital to any long-term success. 

Equally, clubs that have a long, dangerous reputation for their turnover of coaches from one season to the next, such as Hamburg, Schalke and Wolfsburg, also make for interesting case studies in this regard.

Hamburg have long since given up any hope of reclaiming their former power in the German division and continue to struggle to find consistency, and although Schalke and Wolfsburg are closer to the top of the league, they would undoubtedly be near Dortmund in terms of challenging for league titles if they retained managers for more than a season or two. 

Not only does Klopp bring his own talents in terms of tactical knowledge, man management and his personality to put the face of the club on, he also brings stability. Bearing in mind everything Dortmund have gone through in the past 20 years, that is perhaps the one thing fans of the club cherish more than any other. 

In the immediate term, the Black and Yellows now face an excellent opportunity make their way back up the league table and perhaps even reduce the gap between themselves and Bayern Munich before the winter break. 

Klopp has made no qualms about prioritising the Champions League so far this season, and with qualification for the last 16 ensured with two games to go, he can now refocus on the Bundesliga ahead of schedule. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Over the next month, Dortmund will face Paderborn, Frankfurt, Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen on the road, as well as Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg in front of their own fans. Each of those games looks winnable and should offer a perfect opportunity to get some wins under their belt. 

While Bayern contend with their own injury crisis, Dortmund must now get their head down and start picking up wins against teams they really should be beating. The Bavarian champions may sit 17 points ahead of Klopp's slide in first place, but only nine stand between the Black and Yellows and a Champions League spot. 

That is perfectly achievable goal to aim toward before the New Year.