He is Dortmund’s longest-tenured player, having returned to the club of his youth after a decade at Borussia Monchengladbach. In that period, he has scored over 150 goals, putting him on the edge of becoming BVB’s all-time Bundesliga greatest scorer, and he has led the team as captain since 2018.
Having scored three goals this season, he is in good form heading into Wednesday’s Champions League group-stage matchup with Manchester City at the Etihad. However, Marco Reus is reluctant to be viewed as a Dortmund figurehead, a symbol of the team he grew up admiring.
Reus says, “It doesn’t reflect the personality that I want to be seen as the face of the club or the team’s star.” “My objective is to perform in a manner that benefits the team. If the team is performing well, I am confident that each player will have the opportunity to flourish and excel. My strategy is to play as well as possible for my teammates adjacent to me, in front of me, and behind me.
During the ten years, Reus has been an offensive spark at Signal Iduna Park, several of his teammates have excelled to the point that they have earned lucrative transfers; several, like Wednesday’s opponents Ilkay Gündogan and Erling Haaland, to the Premier League.
Three-time Bundesliga Player of the Year Reus has received numerous offers, but none have convinced him to quit his hometown team. “It has always been my goal to play for this club, and it remains my dream to this day,” he explains. “There have been offers from elsewhere, but staying here has always been my ultimate goal. It has worked out excellently.”
Dortmund is a club characterized by a high player turnover rate. They have specialized in acquiring young possibilities, molding them into stars, and selling them for a substantial profit.
In 2012, Reus rejoined Dortmund at the age of 23. Now, as captain and the third-oldest member on the team, he is a senior statesman. Younger athletes, such as English adolescents Jude Bellingham and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, look to him for guidance.
When it is suggested to Reus that his approach to guiding Dortmund’s up-and-coming players is comparable to Eric Cantona’s influence on Manchester United’s Class of 1992 – not through a loud, tub-thumping style of leadership, but by setting a high standard in training and matches – he recognizes the parallels.
“The leadership comes with a great deal of responsibility,” he explains, “, particularly to the younger players who arrive via the academy or from other nations, leagues, and cultures. I must assist them in acclimating to Dortmund, the club, the culture, and occasionally the language.
“There are various methods of group leadership. Are you required to beat the drum? My view is that it is unnecessary so long as you have an opinion, stay by it, and find the means to communicate it.
“I’m a relaxed guy. I enjoy having fun with boys. Occasionally, I must restrain myself and not have too much fun to set a good example for the group. I also strive to avoid imitating others. I must be myself, the individual I have evolved into via my profession and life experiences. I can’t pretend to be someone else.”
Reus can draw knowledge and wisdom from more than just his on-field expertise to assist his younger colleagues. The Germany international with 48 caps has also overcome many significant injuries. Therefore, when an injury sidelines a teammate, Reus may offer comfort and instruction, as he recently did with the 19-year-old American midfielder Gio Reyna.
“He was gone for a considerable amount of time, and when he returned, he experienced some little difficulties,” Reus explains. “I spoke with him and advised him to remain optimistic. Positivity is one of the most significant aspects of the rehabilitation process. It can affect how you return and your ability to return to your best.
“You must maintain a firm mental stance. In our industry, injuries and setbacks are unavoidable. But ultimately they will make you stronger because you now know what you are capable of doing.”
Bellingham is a coworker of Reus who looks to have little difficulty maintaining his composure. Real Madrid and Liverpool are reportedly interested in the £100 million-rated midfielder, who signed to Dortmund from Birmingham City for £25 million in 2020. He is set to be Dortmund’s next superstar, as Real Madrid and Liverpool are supposedly interested in signing him. Despite the weight of expectation that followed Bellingham to Germany, Reus was immediately impressed by the Englishman’s quick adaption and unwavering confidence.
“From day one, he has not hesitated to assume midfield responsibilities. He never appeared afraid when competing against 25-year-olds or extremely seasoned athletes. I must admit that I did not know very much about him before he arrived. But my initial impression was that, although he was not yet a complete player, he already possessed something in all facets of his position that I had never seen in a player of his age.
In two or three years, he will be one of the finest players in the game because, at age 19, he is making strides toward attaining his full potential.
Within Etihad Haaland, the most recent superstar to leave Dortmund will rejoin the club. City activated the 22-year-£51.2m old’s release clause in June, and he has scored 10 goals in six Premier League outings and two goals in City’s first Champions League match, a 4-0 victory against Sevilla.
Reus is aware that for Dortmund to have any chance of upsetting City, he must stop his old striking partner.
He states, “His current performance in Manchester is nothing short of extraordinary.” “It is to his advantage that his colleagues are not the worst!
“How can he be stopped? Good question. It is difficult to stop him. One of the basics is to avoid making judgments too late and to be adept at forecasting future events. You must stay near to him for 90 minutes to impede him as much as possible. Then you can only pray he doesn’t have a good day.”
In 2012, Reus similarly began his Dortmund career, scoring five goals in his first eight games. The world of football seems to open up before him. Although his list of accomplishments would be the envy of most footballers, it is impossible not to grieve what his misfortune deprived him of, including a 2014 World Cup champion’s medal.
During such phases of form and fitness, it would be natural for Reus to feel the urge to make up for a lost time or to pursue something lost. However, the hesitant face of Borussia Dortmund is surprisingly satisfied with his situation.
Reus says, “I’m glad to have been in this industry for so long already.” There have been difficult times, but I’ve learned that there are always worse circumstances for others. Life is simply life, and life occurs. It is not a matter of catching up or making amends.”
