BVB reconciles with the horror season - and overcomes an old trauma

Fantastic weather, a home game, the final matchday of the Bundesliga season – that means a holiday in Dortmund. The entire city is once again donning its distinctive yellow, and the market on Hansaplatz is already decked out in the club's colors in the morning.

A quiet whisper prevails there. Anyone who looks closely, and especially listens carefully, will be repeatedly reminded of a certain situation from two years ago. But those who speak about that day reflexively lower their voices, their heads close together, their hands over their mouths. No one wants to awaken evil spirits or conjure up bad memories in bystanders. The Mainz game hovers over the city like a sphere of its own.

On that ominous May 27th two years ago, BVB dramatically lost the championship title in their own stadium with a 2-2 draw against FSV Mainz on the final matchday. They had it in their own hands – and they failed.

The drama still haunts the entire club and the city. There's a certain amount of excitement ahead of the match against Holstein Kiel . The signs are strikingly similar: fantastic weather, a fantastic atmosphere , and success in their own hands.

In a dismal season in which BVB had slipped to eleventh place at one point, Dortmund could still reach the Champions League on their own on the final matchday. A historic comeback saw BVB climb ten points to fourth place.

The club had mentally bid farewell to the Champions League with their 3-1 win against FC Barcelona in the quarterfinal second leg, but now Europe is calling again. Fourth place isn't a championship, but under the circumstances, it's a huge and important achievement for the club.

Holstein Kiel is now facing a guest who, after being relegated, is now simply looking to bid a respectable farewell to the Bundesliga. Mainz, too, once had nothing left to gain or lose.

But this time everything went according to plan. An early lead through Serhou Guirassy (3'), an early red card for Kiel's Carl Johansson (9', emergency stop), what could possibly happen next?

But then the players' minds begin to ponder. Careless mistakes, individual blunders, negligence, nervousness. When Shuto Machino misses the equalizer from a few meters only thanks to a brilliant save by Gregor Kobel, the uncertainty grows.

There are occasional whistles at halftime, and the bad memories weigh heavily on the minds. But coach Niko Kovac, who got BVB back on track and brought the Champions League back within reach with seven wins and one draw from their last eight matches, is giving the team renewed energy in the locker room.

He downplayed his role after the match, explaining at the press conference that the problems had been discussed objectively at halftime. "And then we had a completely different positioning on the pitch, standing much wider and higher, thus exerting more pressure from the wings, and then inevitably scoring the two goals."

After Felix Nmecha's 3-0 goal, the party mood is in full swing. Europe is singing, "BVB is back!"

With the final whistle, the iconic Champions League anthem sounds over the stadium loudspeakers. It's a conciliatory end to a disastrous season in which much of Dortmund's fortunes crumbled. Now, with the wind in their sails, Borussia flies to the USA for the FIFA Club World Cup.

While the team celebrates in front of the South Stand, Niko Kovac and his coaching staff stand in the background at the center circle. But chants lure the Croatian and his teammates, and they timidly trot toward the Yellow Wall. There, Kovac gestures generously to thank them for their support and immediately retreats to watch the celebrations.

On their way to the catacombs, he and his brother/assistant coach Robert are greeted enthusiastically by management. Carsten Cramer bows symbolically, and even Hans-Joachim Watzke hugs him effusively.

When Kovac later gives the obligatory TV interview on Sky on the sidelines, the fans celebrate him again with chants.

A satisfaction for the coach, who was also greeted with loud doubts when he took over from the failed Nuri Sahin in February?

"I have no satisfaction," Kovac emphasized when asked by FOCUS online, adding: "I'm simply happy. Maybe you don't see it, but inside I'm very happy and proud of what I've achieved."

Kovac was just doing his job, he emphasizes. But the valuable work he's done in recent weeks is also evident in the statements of his players.

Captain Emre Can told Sky that Kovac has given the team a new mentality. He pays attention to "the little details" and "always demands maximum concentration." Julian Brandt also speaks of a new discipline in the team. Kovac has helped with this: "You noticed that he's already experienced a lot and has also been through difficult times."

And goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who already enjoyed a first victory beer in the locker room, says: "We've been a fantastic team these last few weeks. The coach has done a great job, and I think the team has embraced it brilliantly."

BVB presents itself as a team again, as a unit, and celebrates the happy ending to a turbulent season. Has the Mainz trauma also been overcome? Probably not entirely. But many fans can breathe a sigh of relief and continue to process it. The whispers are dying down.