Lucien Favre knew the situation.

It was not the first time that the Swiss coach at Borussia Dortmund was facing the end.

But this time he was really released.

He had lost his greatest bargaining chip: the team was no longer behind him.

The sticking point was the week after a triumphant victory - the 5-2 at Hertha BSC.

Then Favre made what was perhaps his greatest mistake.