NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 08:27
Thierry Boon
reporter NOS Sport
Thierry Boon
reporter NOS Sport
Visiting Malen in Dortmund, who talks about PSV heat between the sausages
Donyell Malen had not seen the draw for the eighth finals of the Champions League himself, but was soon informed by telephone. “Noa Lang immediately called me via Facetime and started laughing loudly,” says Malen in the run-up to PSV-Borussia Dortmund.
We speak to him on a weekday morning on Adi-Preisler-Allee, on the edge of Dortmund. The smell of simmering sausages and fresh fries greets the long line of football fans.
Open training
It’s the school holidays and the youngest supporters are eager to watch the open training of their heroes. Malen also reports to the training complex with a yellow hat and black gloves.
“Donny, Donny!”, it sounds from the youthful throats. Malen waves to the packed stands and gives a thumbs up in approval.
Pro ShotsDonyell Malen soars through the air after scoring a goal for Dortmund
The 25-year-old attacker is in his third season in Dortmund and he is no longer surprised by the number of fans. Malen remembers how different it was during his first Bundesliga matches for the German national club.
“My first away match was in Freiburg, on the other side of the country. I got off the bus and there were hundreds of fans. Then I thought for a moment: wow, this is a really big club.”
‘Grinding makes you happy’
And at that big club, Malen is becoming more and more of a big man. For the third year in a row he reached double figures with goals plus assists. This season he has nine goals after twenty league matches.
Malen about the Dutch team’s European Championship chances: ‘We have a very strong team’
Malen made his debut in the Dutch team in 2019 and has since played 28 international matches, scoring five times. He was there at the 2020 European Championship, but Louis van Gaal left him at home for the 2022 World Cup. “A big disappointment. I thought: this is not appropriate and I don’t want this.”
He has recently been back in the selection under national coach Ronald Koeman. The flush up front is thin and playing time beckons. “Every football player wants to play at a European Championship, so do I.”
“We have a very strong team. We may not be among the three favorites in advance, but at a final tournament you never know what can happen.”
A large sheet of paper with a photo of the Dutchman on it hangs on the fence of the training field. Malen means ‘painting’ in German and according to the accompanying text, research shows that Malen makes you happy.
NOSThe skin made for Donyell Malen along the Dortmund training field
“He is the best player of the moment,” says the maker, while her son receives an autograph from Malen. “He scores, but I also think it is important that he is not selfish. I am a real fan,” she admits with a big smile.
Malen feels comfortable, he says, and is increasingly at home. On the training field he spends a lot of time with fellow countryman Ian Maatsen. Malen is not much into the foreground or interviews, but when he plays football he feels free. “And you notice that on the field.”
Growing up in the shade
Malen feels fine in the shadow of Dortmund guns such as Julian Brandt, Marco Reus, Mats Hummels, Emre Can and Marcel Sabitzer. Let the Dutchman do the talking with his goals.
Pro ShotsDonyell Malen, the man in form at Dortmund
“I have matured a lot here in Dortmund. That is also due to the disappointments you experience, also outside of football. Then you realize what is important to you. For me that is peace, confidence and the conviction to get the best out of every day to take out.”
He lost the title with Dortmund on the last matchday last season. Played at home BVB equal, while competitor Bayern Munich won and thus clinched the championship. Malen still feels that pain. His CV only includes the national title with PSV in 2018.
This season, the German national title is seventeen points behind leader Leverkusen. On Saturday, Dortmund, with Malen on the bench, again lost points against Wolfsburg: 1-1.
Things are going better in a European context. Dortmund kept Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United below them in the group. And now the knockout phase awaits, in which PSV is the opponent. The old club of Malen.
Warm memories of PSV
Between 2018 and 2021, Malen emerged as a dominant attacker in Eindhoven with a flashy action and scoring ability. Dortmund transfers more than thirty million euros to PSV to acquire him.
Pro ShotsAs a goalscorer at PSV
Malen still has good contact with people within PSV. For example, shortly before the interview he was with Jordan Teze to see his child. “When I think of PSV, I don’t necessarily think of football, but also how I felt valued there as a person, how warm it was.”
“Many of the same people still work there, all of whom I have a bond with. This also applies to the masseur, the team leaders… We still text often. It’s nice to reconnect with those people.”
Long kick
That Brabant conviviality will soon not count after the sound of the Champions League anthem. Malen thinks Dortmund is the favorite to continue. “I already told Noa on the phone that I thought he was a little too happy after the draw,” says Malen with a wink.
“I also told him that if he starts dribbling, I’ll kick him over, haha!” Is Lang just as lucky that he is still injured.
2024-02-18 07:27:08
#thought #Noa #Lang #happy #draw
