Realistic Expectations for Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl in 2016/17 Season

Borussia Dortmund have far exceeded expectations this season. Considering they went through their first coaching change since 2008 and came off a wholeheartedly disappointing 2014/15 campaign in which they flirted with relegation for months, no one would have dared expected such a strong year from the Black and Yellows.

No one embodies Dortmund’s surprising level of performances better than 20-year-old midfielder Julian Weigl. Signed as a promise to the future for a mere €2.5 million, according to Transfermarkt.de (link in German), most onlookers expected the Germany under-21 international to alternate between BVB’s first and second teams, with the occasional appearance for Thomas Tuchel’s side—that includes the man himself, as he told Oliver Muller of daily paper Welt (link in German) in January.

In reality, Weigl quickly emerged as one of the first-year head coach’s most trusted players, appearing in 49 of the club’s 54 matches across competitions so far. His meteoric rise from virtual unknown to indispensable starter has been nothing short of sensational.

Now, expectations for the next season will undoubtedly be higher. But what can fans realistically expect from Weigl?

If truth be told, there aren’t too many areas in which the 20-year-old can improve. Showing maturity beyond his years, he’s already displaying an astounding level of consistency in his performances. Apart from a short spell toward the end of the first and the start of the second …

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