The BVB winners met in Bremen to celebrate the second goal: Mats Hummels, Emre Can, scorer Dan-Axel Zagadou and Raphaël Guerreiro (from left to right). Image: imago images / Jan Huebner
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Haaland and Can enchant BVB – these players are now the biggest losers
The week of truth has been a success. After losing to Werder Bremen in the cup and Bayer Leverkusen in the league, Borussia Dortmund had their backs to the wall. The criticism was huge, head coach Lucien Favre was counted again. A few days and three games later, it can no longer be said: After the victories against Eintracht Frankfurt (4: 0), top team Paris St.-Germain (2: 1) and Werder Bremen (2: 0), some BVB fans fall into euphoria again. The victory week produced as many winners as losers.
“We are happy with the week,” said coach Lucien Favre. The Dortmund coach is undoubtedly one of the big winners in the black and yellow. Favre responded to the criticism that recently reappeared due to too many goals conceded and partly passive defenses with three solid defensive performances and only one goal against PSG’s death-set offensive. Favre not only changed tactics, but also benefited from strong players who almost perfectly fulfilled his requirements. Also new: for the first time in his tenure in Dortmund, the Swiss bet on the same starting self three times in a row – his players rewarded him.
Haaland and Can are the big winners at BVB
Pretty much every form-fitting BVB kicker is outshone by Erling Haaland. The 19-year-old newcomer recently scored in all three games and breaks record after record. Haaland scored his twelfth goal against Werder in the eighth competitive game for BVB. Never before has a player scored nine goals in his first six Bundesliga games.
He was brought in for this: Emre Can (right) clears the midfield. Image: imago images / Nordphoto
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In the shadow of Haaland, the second new entry ensured defensive stability: National player Emre Can brought aggressiveness, physicality and a lot of presence to the Dortmund midfield headquarters, In addition to Axel Witsel, he also excelled in the development game and developed into the link between defense and storm. Sports director Michael Zorc raved: “Emre is completely blown away and has been very well received from the start. He brings us presence and mentality.”
Zagadou and Piszczek are stuck in central defense
In addition to the two new additions, there is another big winner at BVB: Dan-Axel Zagadou. The French central defender played no role at BVB for a long time, but got stuck in the starting line-up of Favre in December. In the newly formed triple chain, the 1.96-meter giant impressed alongside the experienced Mats Hummels and Lukasz Piszczek with calm, agility and a strong build-up game. In Bremen, the 20-year-old also proved that his mistake before conceding a goal against Paris did not throw him off the track.
In addition to Zagadou, Raphaël Guerreiro and captain Lukasz Piszczek have also been playing in the Dortmund starting eleven since the winter break. Added to this is the 17-year-old shooting star Giovanni Reyna, who most recently established himself as the first alternative for the Dortmund offensive series and thanked him for his numerous substitutions with some strong performances. The head of defense Mats Hummels will be untouchable at the latest after past appearances, Of course, there are also the long-running favorites Achraf Hakimi and Jadon Sancho.
Akanji, Götze and Delaney could be losers
Where there are winners, there are also losers. The BVB squad, which is now very broad, is currently forcing some professionals who have moved to the second row to watch. How long is of course questionable.
Probably the biggest loser at Borussia Dortmund is Manuel Akanji. With the promotion of Zagadou and Piszczek, the 24-year-old central defender was last three times on the bench. The Swiss international was previously in the starting XI by coach Lucien Favre, contrary to the sometimes harsh criticism of many fans. Since the defensive has played out heavily since his absence, Akanji seems to have lost his place in Dortmund’s central defense for the time being. In Bremen, Favre took him on in the 90th + 3 minutes only for a few seconds and for full-back Hakimi.
Little enthusiasm on the Dortmund substitute bench: Giovanni Reyna, Marcel Schmelzer, Nico Schulz, Mahmoud Dahoud, Manuel Akanji, Mario Götze and substitute goalkeeper Marwin Hitz (from right to left). Image: imago images / Team 2
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Another loser is Mario Götze. Although the 27-year-old – like Nico Schulz or Mahmoud Dahoud – had little time to play from Favre this season, after the departure of Paco Alcácer and the injuries to Julian Brandt and Marco Reus, Götze might have hoped for a little more effort , But Götze, who has only recently been caught up in contractual skirmishes, is neither an alternative for striker Haaland, nor for the offensive positions. Instead, Favre even currently prefers the still inexperienced Reyna.
Another loser could be Thomas Delaney. The Dane has been injured for months, but it should also be difficult to get back into the starting eleven on return. The former regular of the runner-up was last on the ninth game day at the end of October against FC Schalke. The defensive midfielder was bought from Bremen in the summer of 2018 for 20 million euros and is considered a clearer and mentality player in the midfield center. But the acclaimed newcomer Emre Can now combines exactly these attributes. Since Axel Witsel, who is also defensive, is placed next to Can, and Julian Brandt, who was recently injured but also blossoming, is alternative number one for a more offensive focus, so Delaney has to line up in the back.
Lucien Favre should be competitive in the squad – he has a large selection of strong players that he just has to keep in a good mood. The Swiss also knows that the next week of truth will definitely come again for the not uncontroversial coach.
(Bn)
