Borussia Dortmund lost their final match of the UEFA Europa League group stage on Thursday, 1-0, at home against PAOK. The Black and Yellows had already clinched a spot in the round of 32 after Matchday 4 but had little hope to win Group C after their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Krasnodar.The Russians left no doubt about their intentions to win the group, as they jumped out to a 2-0 half-time lead in their meeting with Azerbaijani side Qabala, which rendered Dortmund's result irrelevant.What wasn't irrelevant, however, was the hosts' performance. Because Krasnodar were overwhelming favourites at Qabala, head coach Thomas Tuchel used the game as an opportunity to rest key performers such as Marcel Schmelzer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with second-stringers Park-Joo-ho and Adrian Ramos among the players getting a rare chance in the starting XI.By and large, the back-ups disappointed, although Dortmund were at least as unlucky as they were unconvincing, hitting the woodwork three times.The most disappointing performance, however, came from Adnan Januzaj. The Manchester United loanee made his first start since the first meeting with the Greeks on October 1 and played the full 90 minutes for only the second time since making the move to Germany.Tuchel lamented after the game, via the club's website: "The absolute exertion you need, respect for the task and that real sharpness and passion about your gamewe didn't have all those things you need to win games. And so that's why our performance looked like it was missing a certain something tonight."Much of that critique can be applied to Januzaj's personal performance on the evening. Sebastian Wessling of local paper WAZ called the 20-year-old's apparent lack of desire symbolic of the whole team and also voiced his disappointment in his body language. Jurgen Koers of Ruhr Nachrichten, meanwhile,called Januzaj's performance mysterious.The Belgium international was graded as the worst player on the pitch by both publications, with a rating that translates to 1/10.Only slightly more forgiving2/10was Januzaj's rating by Stefan Buczko of ESPN FC, who wrote: "He rarely gets playing timeand if he does, he does not deliver anything of note and is unreliable. For what's it worth, Januzaj has probably declined since arriving at BVB."It's hard to argue with Buczko's assessment. We highlighted Januzaj's struggles at Dortmund in early November, and it hasn't gotten better since.Against PAOK, the 20-year-old showed off his otherworldly potential only once, when he played a clever pass that Ramos let through to Mkhitaryan, who had come on at intermission. Other than that, the Belgian's performance was nondescript.Time and time again, Januzaj was too hesitant when he got the ball in dangerous areas, most notably so in the 63rd minute. A deflection saw the ball bounce right to him, but before he had realised the opportunity before him, two defenders were in his face and he didn't even get a shot off.Playing without Ilkay Gundogan, out with a knock to his pelvis, Dortmund needed someone to win one-on-ones against PAOK's defensive block. Januzaj, perhaps his side's most gifted dribbler, won only three of his eight attempted take-ons, per Squawka.Toward the end of the match, Dortmund's No. 9 moved out wide and played cross after cross without a single one coming close to finding one of his team-mates. He alone accounted for 12 of Dortmund's 33 crosses, according to WhoScored.com.All this continues to make the loan deal bafflingfor all parties involved. Januzaj can't be happy he doesn't get a lot of playing time despite leaving United, who can't be happy that their player isn't developing because he sits on the bench all the time. Dortmund look like they wasted a spot in their squad on a player who can't help them right away, which is the expectation when a club loans out a player.Because of the Red Devils' failure to beat Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Tuesday and their consequent drop to the Europa League, recalling Januzaj early has become even more unlikely than it was before; he wouldn't be eligible to play for his parent club in Europe this season.He will in all likelihood stay at Dortmund and hope the winter break, with a training camp and lots of opportunities to get coached up, will help him find his feet in Tuchel's side.If he doesn't, the player and both clubs will be looking at a lost season. How disappointing would that be'LarsPollmannis a featured columnist writing onBorussiaDortmund.He also writes forYellowwallpod.com. You can follow him onTwitter.
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