Why Shinji Kagawa Is the Forgotten Dortmund Player Who Will Explode in 2015

When Borussia Dortmund made a trip to East Asia last week to tour the continent during their off-season there was one player who stood out quite unlike he had for quite some time in the black and yellow of the Bundesliga side.

He was of course Shinji Kagawa. The Japanese international who once ruled Dortmund as one of Europe’s most exciting attacking midfielders. Now, after a failed stint in Manchester and a return to Germany with his tail between his legs, the 26-year-old looks a shadow of his former self.

But maybe not for too much longer.

While facing Kawasaki Frontale the attacking midfielder played in his usual role of a central attacking midfielder but instead of Jurgen Klopp’s old 4-2-3-1 formation the new manager Thomas Tuchel had Dortmund playing a more astute 4-1-4-1.

Shuji Kajiyama/Associated Press

Although this may seem like a minimal change in tactics, it allowed the two central midfielders playing in front of the defensive midfield to play across the field without any real limitations on where they could run or find space.

This is where Kagawa comes in to his own. He’s not a box-to-box bruiser, nor is he a simple playmaker who can run the line and play simple passes from one game to the next. No, the Japanese international is a player who needs to be allowed freedom to drift in to pockets of space and join the striker in attack.

It’s this talent that made Kagawa one of he best and most sought-after players in Germany just before his move to Manchester United in June 2012. When on form few can match the attacking midfielder in his ability to find goals and assists in equal measure.

Tuchel will be well aware of how Kagawa came to shine at Dortmund all those years ago and just what will be needed to bring that player and his skills back to the fore. This new formation, if implemented, could well be a large part of that recuperation.

Another aspect of the coming season that could see Kagawa once again become a vital part of Dortmund’s side is the manner in which the squad has shaped up ahead of this coming Bundesliga season.

With the departure of Ciro Immobile and no other notable signings in midfield, it looks as though Tuchel may look to play Henrikh Mkhitaryan—Kagawa’s main competitor for the No.10 position—either on the right wing if Kevin Kampl doesn’t find form soon or up front if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang picks up an injury.

Either way, it looks as though the Armenian may be giving up his preferred central role for either the right wing or a stint up front while Kagawa moves into central midfield alongside Ilkay Gundogan. Whichever way we look at it, the Japanese international is almost guaranteed more game time this season.

Yet before we dig into the what ifs of the coming season we should also acknowledge that Kagawa was by no means a lost cause. For all the hyperbole surrounding his departure for Manchester United, there was still a very good player returning to the former German champions.

According to Transfermarkt, Kagawa notched up six goals and nine assists in all competitions last season. Hardly ground-breaking stuff by any measure but not a bad record for a player who often found himself coming on too late in most games or being subbed off too soon.

It was in the Champions League, specifically against Anderlecht and Galatasaray, that we saw Kagawa at his best for Dortmund last season. His precision passing and ability to time his runs proving invaluable to a shellshocked side at the time.

There was also no denying that as the season marched on the attacking midfielder grew with confidence and so his goals and assists began to flow more regularly for Dortmund. In the first 17 matchdays of the Bundesliga season Kagawa picked up just one goal. In the second 17 he scored four goals and bagged six assists.

Ultimately there is no way of knowing for sure if Kagawa will ever return to the days of old which saw him dictate the way Dortmund played and won championships but the signs are there. Maybe, just maybe, this midfielder could go from forgotten star to the player each and every fan at Westfalenstadion hopes he can once again be.

Follow @sbienkowski