By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Among fans and pundits it seems an open secret that head-coach Peter Stoeger is the person most likely to be affected by Borussia Dortmund's biggest loss in the last ten years.
The time of the 51-year-old at the club seems to be up but the Austrian is far from regarded to be the main culprit for the club's sorry state of affairs.
"I'm sure Dortmund will soon be announcing a new coach for the new season," former German international Lothar Matthaeus commented. After being thrashed 6-0 by Bayern Munich, Stoeger's analysis was seen to be more of a farewell speech by the former German international.
The head coach said a painful humiliation like the one in Munich could help the club to solve its problems because it makes it all the more obvious that something drastic needs to be done.
Stoeger emphasized that Saturday's poor performance "does not strengthen my position, but my life does not depend on working for Borussia Dortmund."
The Dortmund coach said the team's performance does not back up the club's claims of being the number two in German football behind Bayern Munich.
Dutchman Peter Bosz departed in October 2017 after only a few months and Stoeger agreed to help out despite being sacked by FC Cologne only eight days previously.
According to rumors, Lucien Favre (Nice) is the hottest candidate when it comes to Stoeger's successor. It is said the Swiss could leave the first division club for three million euro.
Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann is on Dortmund's list too, but his current club are insisting he remains until 2019.
After the BVB was unable to win a single game in the Champions League group stage under Bosz, the present incumbent was responsible for the team's elimination in the Europa League against underdogs Salzburg as early as the round of the last 32.
Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke called it a must to at least qualify for next season's Champions League campaign. After the latest disastrous defeat, Dortmund lies third in the league table with RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen breathing down their necks.
While the unsettled team is struggling to secure the club's qualification for the 2018/2019 Champions League, club leaders seem to agree that only new faces will help to lead the side back to a better future.
Former German internationals and former club stalwarts such as Matthias Sammer and Sebastian Kehl have accepted the club's call for help.
As announced by Dortmund's sports director Michael Zorc, Kehl will join the club as new team manager. Between 2002 and 2015, the 38-year old played 263 times Dortmund and won the league championship three times.
The appointment of Kehl has been generally welcomed but the decision to take on Sammer is highly controversial.
The 1996 Ballon d'Or winner has played 115 times for Dortmund between 1993 and 1998 and took over the job as head-coach from 2000 to 2004, winning the German national title in 2002.
From 2012 to 2016, the 1997 Champions League winner was at Dortmund's biggest national rival Bayern Munich before stepping down due to health problems. Before, Sammer's relationship to his former club in Dortmund had deteriorated from year to year.
Now Watzke has successfully repaired the damaged relationship. "We need Matthias's critical input," Watzke stressed.
Sammer announced he would act as an external advisor and keep his job as a TV pundit. While he insists he only has a consultant role, insiders say he will strongly influence the future decisions of the club leaders.
Bayern Munich head of board Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told German media his club has no qualms about Sammer helping out struggling Dortmund.
