Our next opponents: Fortuna loan trio up and running

It was THE surprise of the first Bundesliga Saturday of the new season: Fortuna Düsseldorf secured a 3-1 victory over the highly rated Werder Bremen at their ground to ensure a dream start to the new campaign. Definitely surprising on the one hand as Fortuna are again and again predicted to go down in Bundesliga predictions – in contrast to the ambitious Werder. On the other hand, it is less remarkable that Fortuna were able to secure the first three points given their solid defensive and effective offensive performances. The team coached by Friedhelm Funkel finished in an impressive tenth position last season and they were able to hurt any team in the Bundesliga. Düsseldorf have demonstrated that quality again – although there was a rather bumpy start in the opening fixture of the season. In the first round of the DFB Cup, the Rhinelanders were losing at half-time to fifth tier FC 08 Villingen but they came out on top in extra time. Nevertheless, two wins from two games for Fortuna marks a successful start to the season.

Although none of them found the back of the net – it was the new signings in the team that stood out at Bremen. Leading the way was Zackary Steffen (pictured above). The USA international, who was voted best goalkeeper in the MLS back home and is actually a Manchester City player, helped secure the three points with several outstanding saves to earn special praise from coach Funkel. "He made some brilliant saves," said the Fortuna coach in his assessment of the 24-year-old shot-stopper who promptly made it into the kicker team of the matchday on his Bundesliga debut. Like Steffen, Lewis Baker also joined Düsseldorf in the summer – and the Englishman impressed on his Bundesliga debut with dynamic distribution in central midfield. Baker is on loan from Chelsea but Fortuna do have the option to buy. The same applies to winger Erik Thommy, a VfB Stuttgart player, who also provided an outstanding performance amongst the three loanees with two assists in his first Bundesliga game for Fortuna Düsseldorf. 

In spite of the excellent start to the season, Funkel had reason to find fault following the match in Bremen: "We’re happy with the start but we have to improve on the pitch," It's no wonder the experienced coach is not completely satisfied as three of his key players from last season are missing. The two Belgian wingers Dodi Lukebakio (now at Hertha Berlin) and Benito Raman (now Schalke 04) are now playing for opponents in the league. Funkel not only had to replace two of his quickest and most technically able players but they were also the top Fortuna goalscorers last term. To cap it all, playmaker Kevin Stöger suffered a torn cruciate in the final minutes of the last Bundesliga game of the season that was only of academic interest to Fortuna and he will probably only be available again at the start of the second half of the season. Players like Baker or Thommy as well as Kenan Karaman, who impressed against Werder Bremen, are now the ones to provide the moments of magic up front.

Fortuna have two experienced men at the helm in the Friedhelm Funkel sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel and they have been extremely successful at Düsseldorf up to now: Funkel with his calm, seasoned approach and Pfannenstiel with his worldwide network and shrewd transfer activity. The duo are currently on track to establish the previously stricken club in the Bundesliga. However, the club already has to prepare for the time after Funkel: The head coach's contract runs out at the end of the season and the now 65-year-old will probably go into well-deserved retirement. It will be interesting to see who Fortuna bring in then.

On the first matchday of the season, Düsseldorf impressively demonstrated that last season was not a one-hit wonder and the team will continue to find ways of winning games. Fortuna may well no longer have the penetration up front shown last season but the chance of staying up again appears more than realistic with Funkel as coach and a solid defence including a new high-flyer in goal.