The first season with Thomas Tuchel at the helm goes down statistically as the best season ever in club's history, with just eight defeats in 56 competitive games. However it is not enough to win a title, the best second placed team of all time loses the Cup final in a penalty shoot-out.

The disappointment is big. For the fourth time in a row BVB only win the silver medal. Mats Hummels, the departing captain put it bluntly: "we fought hard against Bayern, however we did not get anywhere near to playing the way we know we can play." BVB president Dr. Reinhard Rauball said: "you cannot deny that they had a slight advantage when it came to being more in control on the pitch and having more chances on goal." Thus it was not the case that they 'did not deserve' this result in the end. Hans-Joachim Watzke said after a losing the final yet again: "everything is relative. The opponent has been Bayern Munich for the fourth time in a row since 2012, if you add in the Champions League. When it comes to this opponent, you cannot automatically think you will win if you are Borussia Dortmund."

BVB was mainly kept busy in defense, but they still had the big chance to decide the game for themselves in the 85.minute. However Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shot over the goal after a cross from Lukasz Piszczek (85.). Erik Durm (94.) and Roman Bürki (114.) saved Borussia with sensational actions against Lewandowski and Alaba to make sure the game went to penalties. Shinji Kagawa scored his penalty to make it 1-0, however after Sven Bender and Sokratis both didn't score from the spot it meant that Bürki would have to save twice. He only managed to save Kimmich's penalty: "a penalty shoot-out is down to luck and a little bit of psychological cat and mouse play." One question remains unanswered: what would the outcome of the match have been if BVB would have had a one man advantage for 51 minutes, had Frank Ribery been sent off for an obvious foul on Gonzalo Castro in the 39.minute?

Thomas Tuchel emphasised: "the defeat does not erase 78 points in the Bundesliga." It also does not have a negative effect of the excitement surrounding Borussia, who set a new attendance record in 2015/16 and were the only Bundesliga club to remain unbeaten at home. BVB finished the Bundesliga season a week before the Cup final with a 2-2 draw against 1.FC Köln (goals: Castro, Reus) as the best second placed team of all time.

The U19 win the Bundesliga-Weststaffel Championship for the first time in seven years and they set a new attendance record in the semi-final against TSV 1860 Munich. 15117 spectators see them lose 1-2 at home in the Signal Iduna Park. However Christian Pulisic and Felix Passlack turn the tables in the 2nd leg and score the goals in a 2-0 victory that sends BVB to the final. In front of a great crowd of 14766 spectators the Black Yellows beat TSG Hoffenheim 5-3 away through goals from Jonas Anweiler (2), Felix Passlack and Janni Serra (2). Passlack is involved in every BVB goal on his 18.birthday! Head Coach Hannes Wolf said: "it makes us very proud to see what the boys have achieved by scoring four goals in the second half of a final." Academy Co-ordinator Lars Ricken: "this is fantastic! This team won the title on two occasions when they were playing at U17 level. Winning the Championship again with the same players at U19 level is another step up."

Pulisic also makes the headlines on the international scene. The youngster scored his first international goal in the 4-0 victory in a friendly match between the USA and Bolivia. US Head Coach Jürgen Klinsmann said about the 17 year old, who he then had in the team in the "Copa America" that was to follow: "scoring a goal for the natiponal A-team at such a young age is something very special." And Julian Weigl goes down in Borussia Dortmund history as the 52.German  international. The 20 year old midfield player makes his  debut in the 1-3 DFB friendly match defeat against Slovakia. Weigl says: "I have experienced a lot this season, but this is another highlight." He is part of the squad at the EURO in France, however he does not make an appearance. Marco Reus loses out and has to withdraw from the German EURO squad due to an infection in the adductor area. Boris Rupert