Borussia Dortmund VfB striker Undav
Füllkrug’s self-confident announcement to the competitors
Status: 29.01.2024 | Reading time: 3 minutes
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With three goals against Bochum, Niclas Füllkrug ensures that BVB wins for the third game in a row. The national player then demonstrated his self-confidence with pithy announcements – albeit with a small calculation error.
One of the game balls with which he scored his first hat-trick for Borussia Dortmund was then “pressed into his hand,” said Niclas Füllkrug – and he was happy with himself and the world. On the one hand, because he scored three goals to make it 3-1 against VfL Bochum in a home game and he was able to celebrate them in front of the south stand. On the other hand, because they ensured that BVB stayed on track despite their performance being improved.
“I don’t want to deal with negative things at all,” said the national player, who has won three wins in a row with Dortmund since the beginning of the year – which was, however, sorely necessary and expected by the club management. “We won another game in which we didn’t have to worry. After the winter break we have a goal difference of 10:1,” said the 30-year-old. That counts.
Had a good laugh: Niclas Füllkrug single-handedly shot BVB to victory against Bochum
Source: AFP/LEON KUEGELER
“I know there is still room for improvement, but you always have to see the process. In the first half of the season we didn’t always have the consistency to win games so confidently. At the end of the first half of the season we had problems winning at all,” explained Füllkrug to the critics. They pointed out again on Sunday that Dortmund’s game still lacked the ease and self-image of a top team – and that the nine points were scored against relegation candidates: Darmstadt, Cologne and Bochum.
Everything is correct, says Füllkrug. But Dortmund had a hard time playing against their supposedly small opponents in November and December. That’s why a tough win at times like the one on Sunday is important in order to get back into the flow.
BVB wins the stage in the race for the Champions League places
Füllkrug almost single-handedly secured the victory with two penalty kicks against Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann, a proven penalty specialist, and a header. But he also saw other good approaches. “We got into the penalty area well and had good processes,” said Füllkrug. However, BVB often failed to play the last, decisive pass.
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But the basic course is correct. “I am very happy that we collected the points so confidently. We are on the right path. We are not at the limit yet, but we will get to the point where we will be totally competitive with the top teams in the league,” said Füllkrug.
In fact, the Dortmunders have already been able to record a stage victory in their declared comeback with a view to the Champions League places: Coach Edin Terzic’s team beat RB Leipzig, which was defeated 2-5 in Stuttgart on Saturday relegated to fourth place.
Füllkrug’s declaration of war on Stuttgart’s Undav
Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav, who scored three goals against Leipzig, provided Dortmund with significant support. Undav has undoubtedly improved his chances of being called up for the national team at EURO 2024.
Füllkrug heard that too. Does he pay particular attention to Undav’s hit rate – especially in view of his regular place in the center of attack in the national team? “I have eleven goals and two assists in 13 international matches, what should I look for?” he replied and smiled confidently. However, he made a small calculation error in his favor.
He only scored ten goals for the national team. However, the self-confident Füllkrug was probably spot on with his conclusion: “I don’t know what you’re looking for: someone who scored 25 goals in 13 games? You can’t find it in Germany.”
