Borussia Dortmund: Ranking the Best and Worst BVB Players for April
Borussia Dortmund will be in a buoyant mood ahead of this weekend's action and the start of May, following a month of football that has brought them up the Bundesliga table and to the final of the DFB-Pokal.
Jurgen Klopp's side have looked like a team re-energised of late, and with European qualification in sight, the Black and Yellows will have high hopes of catching sixth place and finishing this season on a high.
But before all that, it's time to take a look back over the past four weeks of football and decipher just who were the best and worst players for Dortmund in April.
A Note of Caution
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Although this list clearly states that it is to rank the best and worst players for Dortmund over the past month, we must point out that we will only be ranking players who actually contributed to the team over the course of the past four weeks.
This may also exempt players who have made one or two substitute appearances but for no more than five or 10 minutes at a time.
The Worst Players in April
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1. Roman Weidenfeller
Although Roman Weidenfeller didn't commit any atrocities over the month of April—which, as most Dortmund fans will know, is a rarity these days—his ever-growing mortality between the Westfalenstadion posts is as clear as ever. It became even more apparent when Mitch Langerak was asked to come in as cover after the German picked up an injury halfway through the month.
The young Australian international initially impressed against Eintracht Frankfurt but then put on a season-defining performance against the might of Bayern in the DFB-Pokal. The 26-year-old shot-stopper seems to be getting better and better, and that makes Weidenfeller look worse and worse.
2. Ilkay Gundogan
Ilkay Gundogan is slowly, but surely, making his way back to peak fitness, and as such, he is beginning to look a little like his old self. Unfortunately, for every moment of brilliance the German international has another five moments of upset and frustration these days.
Although he managed to bag a goal against Borussia Monchengladbach, Gundogan still isn't walking on to the park and dominating the middle of the pitch like he used to. Klopp and the fans are growing restless.
3. Mats Hummels
In a similar sense to Gundogan's current run of form, Mats Hummels can only be judged on what he once brought to this side, and therefore, recent performances simply must go down as below par.
The central defender did look back to his best against Bayern, pulling him away from the top spot, but too often we have found the star defender taking a back seat and drifting through games when he should be seeing them out.
4. Sokratis Papastathopoulos
In contrast to his usual defensive partner, Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been at fault at times throughout the last month for simply being played out of position at right-back and for, oddly enough, trying a little too hard.
The Greek international is a fine full-back but looks caged and far more troubled than when he's at the centre of the back line. Add to this a particularly nervous display against Bayern—perhaps at fault for Robert Lewandowski's goal—and you have a month that Sokratis won't be remembering too fondly for his own performances.
5. Marco Reus
Yes, even the boy wonder can slip out of form from time to time. Although much of April's form will go down to the injury that kept him out of the Gladbach and Paderborn game, there's no denying that Marco Reus has been overshadowed by other attacking players over the course of April.
Add to that two rather dismissive performances against Bayern and it's hard not to state that April just wasn't the best month for Dortmund's best player.
The Best Players in April
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1. Sven Bender
Sven Bender only played three out of the five available games for Dortmund in April, yet his performances in each of those games allowed him to stand out for all to see what he is truly capable when on song.
The defensive midfielder enjoyed two strong games against the might of Bayern and, for perhaps the first time this season, looked like the prospect that had Dortmund and Germany so excited.
2. Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The contrast between the 11 minutes Henrikh Mkhitaryan was afforded in Dortmund's first clash with Bayern this month and the immediate impact he had in the second earlier this week is a perfect example of how the Armenian forward has grown in confidence over the past four weeks.
With a goal and an assist against Paderborn and an all-important assist on Tuesday, Mkhitaryan is back looking like his old self: a quality forward who can win games single-handedly.
3. Shinji Kagawa
There was a temptation to put Shinji Kagawa above his Armenian counterpart if not for the disappointing display we saw from him against Bayern earlier this week.
Yet aside from that Kagawa has been outstanding. Clearly benefitting from the absence of Reus and each ball being played directly to him for a change, the Japanese international a goal against Paderborn and Frankfurt.
There's still some life and promise left in this Dortmund prospect.
4. Jakub Blaszczykowski
Although never considered one of the truly talented players at Dortmund, the return of Jakub Blaszczykowski to starting positions has brought with it a notable boost to the side.
The Polish international brings with him a wealth of experience and intelligence on the pitch, and as we saw on Tuesday, he knows just how to defend a wing and protect his full-back when necessary.
He's a vital tactical piece Klopp has been missing for too long.
5. Erik Durm
Like Bender, Erik Durm has only played three games over the course of April. Yet in each match, Dortmund fans have been delighted with his performances and the prospect of him finally taking up the right-back position permanently next season.
The defensive prospect hasn't looked himself for much of this campaign, but over the past three games, he has regained that feeling of excitement regarding his involvement in the first team.
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