Bundesliga “kickstart” for Füllkrug? Dortmund remains on the road to success
BVB striker Niclas Füllkrug scored at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. photo
© Uwe Anspach/dpa
New signing Niclas Füllkrug should now really get started at Borussia Dortmund. The ex-Bremen player celebrates his goal debut in front of the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Niclas Füllkrug stood in front of the cameras and microphones with a grin. The national striker clearly enjoyed his first goal for Borussia Dortmund and especially the 3-1 win at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. However, Füllkrug did not give the impression that the pressure had been released from him.
“I’m relaxed, I was relaxed, I’ll stay relaxed. Of course I think it’s good that the team develops a feeling that there’s someone up front who can hit the goal,” explained the 30-year-old and casually added: ” Maybe I’ll get one or two more balls in the future.”
It was of course clear to the Dortmund team that the jump to the top of the Bundesliga table after a Friday evening game rarely lasts long. So Borussia boss Hans-Joachim Watzke threw a suggestion for a headline at the media representatives on the way to the visitors’ dressing room to congratulate them: “BVB is roaring its way to the top.” And then added: “Stomp all the newspapers!”
Important premier class game
Before the upcoming challenge in the Champions League against AC Milan, Dortmund’s next success came at just the right time. “This should give us a boost. We know that we have an important game at home on Wednesday,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl.
In front of 30,150 spectators in the sold-out Sinsheim stadium and in front of the eyes of the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann, who will announce his squad for the USA international trip on Friday, Füllkrug scored with a winning goal. “We hope that this was the kickstart, that it continues to be so important for us,” said coach Edin Terzic.
Despite the goals from Füllkrug (18th minute), Marco Reus (45th + 3) and Julian Ryerson (90th + 5), his team had some weak phases. Especially after the interim equalizer by Andrej Kramaric (25th/foul penalty) and after the break when Grischa Prömel was denied from close range by the strong Borussia keeper Gregor Kobel. The runner-up has been unbeaten since April, but still leaves a lot to be desired. “It can also be positive that you are up there and still have room for improvement,” said Füllkrug.
After yellow-red “mental performance”
After the yellow-red card for Rami Bensebaini (71st), it was “just a fight, a mental performance,” admitted the ex-Bremer player. Füllkrug as a classic nine and the turbo offensive people Donyell Malen and Julian Brandt, as well as veteran Reus and, as a joker, a dribbler like Karim Adeyemi, showed the direction in which things can go. “Edin gives us great ideas, but we have to develop a structure on the pitch so that we all pull in the same direction,” demanded Füllkrug.
The World Cup participant almost scored into his own net during a save in the first half, but he took that in stride: “I think the ball was too slow for me to score an own goal in the end. Greg would have saved it .” Of course, he also knew exactly who he had to thank for his debut goal in the yellow jersey: Julian Brandt had “totally anticipated” John Anthony Brooks’ mistake: And then I snatch the ball from his foot. But I’ll give it the assist him.” There it was again, Niclas Füllkrug’s broad grin.
dpa
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