Which of the Bundesliga's Top 4 Can Borussia Dortmund Overcome Next Season?

Thomas Tuchel conducted his first press conference as manager of Borussia Dortmund this week and wasted little time laying out his intentions for the coming season with the new club. 

He told the club website on Thursday: "Domestically, there are more teams challenging now. It's no longer just Bayern Munich, there's also Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg.

"We are a challenger to this quartet's dominance - and we have a certain amount of catching up to do."

Yet just how far are Dortmund from challenging the Bundesliga's top four? Are they capable of reaching Champions League qualification in their first season and who would they knock out of this prestigious and exclusive club?

Bayern Munich

The top side in the Bundesliga this season, next season and for the foreseeable future is undoubtedly Bayern Munich. The German champions have all the resources, players and perhaps most importantly the manager to continue winning league titles at a canter. 

Although Wolfsburg have ran them close in league clashes this season and Dortmund dumped them out of the cup, Pep Guardiola's team would have to undergo a serious meltdown for Tuchel's team to come anywhere near them next season. 

For now and the next few seasons it would take an almighty task to see anyone else lift the famous Bundesliga salad bowl in Bayern's place. First place is simply not possible for Dortmund right now. 

Wolfsburg

If Bayern are Germany's top team right now, then the Wolves of Volkswagen are most certainly the second-best team in the Bundesliga right now. 

Under Dieter Hecking's guidance the Lower Saxony side have managed to funnel their large corporate backing into smart buys and a team bursting with talent and confidence. Kevin de Bruyne has been the best player in Germany this season and a number of his teammates haven't been too far behind. 

In the long-term Wolfsburg are essentially sitting in Dortmund's spot and Tuchel's side will have high hopes of re-claiming that spot at the front of the pack chasing after Bayern. But can they do it this season?

Considering the manner in which we saw the Wolves completely pull Dortmund apart in the DFB-Pokal final it seems unlikely. Sure, Marco Reus wasn't on top of his game but there are just too many ifs and buts in this Dortmund side to consider them genuine contenders for Wolfsburg's spot.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Gladbach

In third place we have Borussia Monchengladbach. A team run by the impressive but often under-appreciated Lucien Favre that managed to make a healthy, consistent go at reaching automatic qualification for the Champions League next season. 

Unfortunately for all the hard work Favre has put into this side it looks as though some of its key players may be heading off this summer. Max Kruse—an industrious striker with 11 goals for the team this season—has agreed to join Wolfsburg while their engine in midfield, Granit Xhaka, has been heavily linked with moves out of the club this summer. 

The Foals will undoubtedly dip into the transfer market now that European football is assured but whether the same team will be around next season is as of yet unsure. If not, Dortmund have an excellent chance of leapfrogging them in to that automatic qualification spot. 

Bayer Leverkusen

Last but not least we have Bayer Leverkusen in fourth place, taking up the final spot in the Bundesliga's top-four positions. 

The Factory Squad have done exceptionally well to finish within the top four under new manager Roger Schmidt but will have to make sure they can do it all again to ensure Dortmund don't sneak into the top four. 

Leverkusen do have a strong squad but whenever tasked with playing any of the other top-three sides or indeed Dortmund they often tend to struggle. A sure sign that although the team have been consistent against much of the league, their squad doesn't seem up to the task of matching the other large clubs in the league. 

This is perhaps where Dortmund are best suited for next season. Should Tuchel place any expectations on this side, it should really be based around targeting both Leverkusen and Gladbach for those third- and fourth-place positions. 

Second place or even a title challenge may be beyond Tuchel's team in their first, transition season but Champions League qualification may just be within their reach following such a turbulent year under Klopp. 

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