Massive goodbyes trigger BVB's journey to Wembley

Massive goodbyes to goosebumps propel Borussia Dortmund towards Wembley.

Marco Reus is saying his fond farewells one last time at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. This Saturday, people are looking forward to a memorable ending at Wembley.

"The crucial aspect is on the field," said Adi Preißler, a soccer legend of Dortmund. However, in this case, it's changed to: It's all about what Marco Reus brings to the table. The game between Borussia Dortmund and SV Darmstadt was simply a formality. Dortmund would remain in fifth place, and Darmstadt would be relegated in last place. This match's outcome didn't really matter.

But it did matter - everyone wanted to witness Reus's performance one last time in this stadium and possibly give him a fitting send-off with a goal. And they were not disappointed as he scored a goal and an assist in the 4:0 victory. Reus even admitted it was "a bit cheesy."

Of course, coach Edin Terzić had Reus in the starting lineup as the captain, as he's done before. After all, Reus's role has shifted from a game-changer to a complementary player. In front of the massive crowd, he got goosebumps and said, "It was extremely emotional today. I planned to enjoy it all one last time, and it was perfect."

Reus's farewell began even before the match started. He was allowed to go out half a minute earlier than the rest of the team to warm up. Instantly, he was showered with cheers from the stadium's 80,000+ spectators. "That wasn't planned by me," Reus explained later in the mixed zone, grinning. The "Marco Reus" chants echoed loudly 35 minutes before kick-off. Just as the song "Someone like you" by Adele played, Reus was presented with flowers, a portrait, and farewell words by club officials and stadium spokesman Nobert Dickel. He also received the first round of farewells from the South Stand, tapping his heart while being celebrated.

The fans honored him with a massive "Thank you Marco!" message. The number 11 was also displayed in black and yellow font. Around the stadium, jerseys with Reus's number seemed more abundant than usual. One of them even read, "Black and yellow legend."

The match was summarized quickly: Dortmund searched for Reus, who in turn provided a crossbar opportunity. He then set up Ian Maatsen's first goal through a tunnel. In the 38th minute, the fans rose when the ball was positioned 17 meters away for a free kick. They confidently thought he'd score, and he delivered. His teammates celebrated their captain who, after the goal, shared air kisses with the spectators. "It was like a painting," said Reus.

The pinnacle moment occurred in the 81st minute. Reus exited the game to a standing ovation from his team, their opponents, the visiting fans, and even the Ultras chorus. During the game, Reus managed to fit in a visit to the chorus members, to thank them. He even provided free beer for the BVB supporters. Following a lap of honor and a confetti cannon act by Niclas Füllkrug, another fan outing concluded at the South Stand an hour later.

Reus then stood in front of the "Yellow Wall" (aka the South Stand), surrounded by a throng of spectators. His time as a Borussia Dortmund player and in his final days at the Westfalenstadion was drawing to a close. Although he might not need or want this moment, it was unavoidable - giving a grand finale. It's difficult to know what Reus was thinking during this emotional occasion. Possibly reflecting on the many unforgettable moments in this stadium.

His crucial brace against FC Bayern in 2018, his derby goal alongside his "Batman" friend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 3-0 win against Schalke, or his sensational solo against Besiktas, in which he left two players behind. Also, the equalizer against FC Malaga during the Westfalenstadion miracle when BVB flipped the game on its head in stoppage time en route to the Champions League finale. Undoubtedly, these are epic moments in BVB history.

Marco Reus will depart from Borussia Dortmund as a club icon. It's not an exaggeration to say so. He was born and grew up in Dortmund, moved through the club's youth teams, and played professionally there for twelve years. A true hometown hero. While not the most approachable person, he remains a crowd favorite and team idol, the face of modern BVB. His career has become famous for its highs and lows. "There were more ups," he stressed in his farewell video two weeks ago.

One of the setbacks included Reus' time in Dortmund's youth ranks, where he was assessed to be too light and dismissed. This mistake ended up costing the team 17.5 million euros when they needed to buy him back from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2012, where he made his breakthrough.

Reus arrived at Dortmund in 2012, considered one of the league's most sought-after players and the hottest stock. He had already enchanted half the league during his time at Gladbach under coach Lucien Favre. A mix of speed, technique, vision, and finishing power, he was hailed as the new era for the team. But things didn't go as planned.

Reus faced the misfortune of joining BVB at a time when Bayern's reign was reaching its peak. First under Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola, then under Hansi Flick. It wasn't until the Nagelsmann/Tuchel era that Bayern's dominance started to crumble. However, Dortmund missed their best chance to dethrone Bayern the previous year on the last game day. Following the 2:2 draw against Mainz, Reus was seen crying on the home stadium's pitch, the ultimate heartbreak moment.

Reus's statistics are impressive

The story also includes the fact that the 34-year-old has not won any significant trophy in his twelve years at BVB. A total of three Super Cup trophies and two DFB Cup victories were not as memorable as expected. But he's also missing the Bundesliga and European titles. This earned him the reputation of being an underachiever, something that stuck with him. Despite his abilities and personal successes, doubts about his performance remained.

During his time as Dortmund's captain from 2018 to 2023, Reus' team faced some challenges, battling domestically against the Bayern juggernaut and internationally against powerhouses like Juventus, Real, Chelsea, and City. The lack of titles and six runner-up finishes were often linked to Reus, which wasn't always fair. The famous mentality debate escalated, and it took a toll on Reus himself.

"It's so annoying," he blasted in 2019 after a 2:2 draw against Frankfurt. "You and your mentality crap." Two years later, after the team had recovered, he responded with the legendary quote, "Everyone is only human."

Reus was respected by fans for his performance on the pitch and appreciated by them off it. However, their love and admiration weren't absolute. Reus held a mirror up to the club, exposing its stagnation at the top level. His impact on the club is significant: Reus has played a total of 428 competitive matches for BVB, scoring 170 goals and providing 131 assists. Staggering numbers. This puts him fourth in the club's list of all-time top players and second among the club's top scorers. Only Adi Preißler is above him.

Reus has gone through seven coaches: Klopp, Tuchel, Bosz, Stöger, Favre, Terzić, and Rose (and Terzić twice). They all stood by him, and he remained loyal to the club despite receiving offers from numerous top clubs. This loyalty is another aspect of Reus that is highly valued by the fans. The following fan quotes illustrate this: "Identification and loyalty are what your name stands for," "100 percent Dortmunder," and "Few words, many deeds - 100% of an entire decade."

During his time with the national team, Reus faced more challenges than triumphs. In 2018, for instance, their performance was far from perfect. He was initially highly anticipated when he joined the national team coached by Joachim Löw back in 2012, which was already filled with talent. They went on to reach the semi-finals of the 2012 European Championship, and Reus even played in the knockout rounds. However, he missed out on the 2014 World Cup win, which could have made him a major star, because of a syndesmosis ligament rupture he suffered during a match against Armenia. He also had to sit out the 2016 European Championship (pubalgia) and the 2017 Confederations Cup victory (cruciate ligament rupture) due to injuries. His last match was against Liechtenstein in 2021. Reus's time with the DFB team didn't prove to be as fruitful as one would have hoped.

There were flowers for Marco Reus before kick-off.

Injuries have played a significant role in his career. Reus has had to stay out of 213 games since 2012/13 due to injuries and illness, with the question of "what if" being a major part of his career.

Adding to the mix, Wembley has a special connection for him. In his first BVB season, he made it to the Champions League final at Wembley and barely lost to Arjen Robben's Bayern. The loss left a deep mark. This is where his last game for BVB takes place, and he gets to return to this iconic place. It seems like a perfect ending to his BVB career.

A potential turning point

Emphasizing on his love for football and unwillingness to stop playing, Reus is still considering his next step. He may leave NRW for the first time in his career and explore opportunities in the United States. St. Louis wants to sign him with the help of his former teammate Roman Bürki, and the MLS is open to him. There's also a possibility of a return to BVB. "We are expecting him to return to BVB after his professional career because there are many interesting opportunities waiting for him in Dortmund," Watzke, the managing director, promised.

Before that, there's a significant milestone ahead. Wembley, not against Bayern this time, but Real Madrid. The stakes couldn't be higher. "We have to get this too - otherwise, it would be disappointing," Reus said after the semi-final match against PSG. Winning the Champions League with BVB would be the cherry on top of his career. It might be the ultimate closure to an unfinished story.

BVB fans send numerous messages to Marco Reus.

"I love this sport. I can't imagine stopping now," Reus explained his reluctance to retire. It's uncertain where Reus's journey will lead, but one thing's for sure: there's a lot more in store.