Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha does not yet possess the consistency required to be considered a world-class player, according to former European champion Markus Babbel.
SPORT1 reported the remarks following Nmecha’s recent performances in domestic and cup competitions.
Nmecha recently scored two goals to secure a 2-1 victory for Borussia Dortmund against SV Elversberg. Despite that decisive contribution, Babbel argued on the television program Sky90 that the German international lacks the necessary week-to-week reliability.
Ich habe von ihm noch nie drei gute Spiele hintereinander gesehen,
Babbel said on the broadcast, stating that he has never seen three strong consecutive matches from the 26-year-old. Er kann nicht Samstag, Mittwoch, Samstag auf allerhöchsten Niveau spielen. Er schafft ein Spiel, er schafft vielleicht auch zwei Spiele, aber drei schafft er nicht.
Babbel outlined the specific performance threshold that separates very good players from elite ones in modern football. The 54-year-old analyst emphasized that world-class status requires delivering a high standard even on difficult days.
Für mich gehört zur Weltklasse, dass du es dreimal schaffst,
Babbel explained. Dass du dreimal ablieferst, auch wenn du vielleicht selber mal nicht so gut drauf bist. Dass du so einen Impact auf der Mannschaft hast, dass jeder weiß: Wir brauchen ihn, er lenkt und leitet der Mannschaft. Das kann er in meinen Augen noch nicht.
While Babbel acknowledged that Nmecha might eventually reach that elite tier, he insisted the midfielder must still prove it over a sustained period. He categorized the Borussia Dortmund star as a good player who has yet to cross that definitive threshold.
Fellow television pundit Lothar Matthäus largely agreed with Babbel’s assessment while highlighting the raw physical and technical attributes at Nmecha’s disposal. Matthäus noted that the Dortmund player possesses extraordinary capabilities, though consistency remains an ongoing challenge.
According to Matthäus, supporters and coaches never quite know which version of the player will appear on any given matchday. Aber die Voraussetzungen, die er hat: Wenn er die ausschöpft, dann kann er ein großer Unterschiedsspieler werden,
Matthäus said, indicating that fulfilling his immense potential could transform him into a decisive match-winner.
Nmecha has occasionally drawn scrutiny from sections of the Borussia Dortmund fanbase, notably regarding his goal celebrations following recent strikes. The discussions surrounding his consistency arrive as Dortmund plays a demanding fixture schedule across domestic and European competitions.
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