Borussia Dortmund have failed to make the last 16 of a European competition for the first time in a decade. The Bundesliga outfit were eliminated in the Europa League playoffs by Rangers, with the Scottish Champions holding on to a 2-2 draw at home, and winning 6-4 on aggregate.
Rangers will be facing Red Star Belgrade in the Round of 16 of the Europa League, and will be the favourites heading into the fixture. More so, after their dominant win over one of the top clubs in the world.
What Borussia Dortmund’s loss could mean for their future
This year, the Black and Yellow club have exited European football prematurely. And it could end up being a catalyst for the departure of Erling Haaland in the summer.
The Norwegian is one of the best strikers in the world right now, and has a €75 million release clause that comes into play at the end of the season. The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City are all interested in signing the striker.
And with Borussia Dortmund’s hugely inconsistent form, it might be a better option for the player to look for a better sporting project. A player of Haaland’s level would want to compete at the highest tier of football, which would mean regular Champions League football.
So, a move away from Signal Iduna Park would be due to poor performances in European competitions to some extent. Dortmund have already outlined Karim Adeyemi as a replacement for their number 9, and hope to complete his signing soon.