Is it possible without Sébastien Haller? At least in the first game of the season against an ambitious third division football team, the answer from the Dortmund offensive department was: Yes!
Donyell Malen played big in Borussia’s 3-0 (3-0) win against an overwhelmed TSV 1860 Munich. Newcomer Karim Adeyemi also scored straight away in the constant rain in Munich. BVB also impressed coach Edin Terzic in the Grünwalder stadium with fast-paced football, playfulness and dominance, who attested to his team’s “very mature performance”.
The real answer to the effect of Haller’s long-term absence will only come in the real sporting emergencies in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Terzic didn’t want to discuss that much on Friday evening. Rather, the 39-year-old emphasized the human destiny at Haller and preferred to dedicate the success in the first round of the cup to the 30 million euro access, where no one can say when he will be able to play football and score goals again.
“We miss Sebastien every day”
“We miss Sébastien every day, we miss him as a person,” said Terzic: “We promised him we would go through to the next round. We’re happy we kept that.”
The 28-year-old Haller should (should) do the job of striker Erling Haaland, who moved on to Manchester City for a lot of money, in the center of the attack. Terzic must now find alternative solutions. Another physically robust attacker is missing from the squad. The 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko could hardly set accents against the sixties.
The Dutchman Malen, who wants to get off to a good start in BVB’s second year, did that. “I really liked Donny. He looks fresher. He seems lighter. He seems more positive. You could see the self-confidence in a lot of actions,” enthused sporting director Sebastian Kehl. Malen scored the early 1-0, initiated goal number two by Jude Bellingham and passed international Adeyemi the 3-0. “I’m very happy with our performance. We let the ball run very well,” said Bellingham, who was conspicuous next to Malen.
Of course, the BVB bosses will not prematurely call off the search for a striker after the Haller shock after the loose start of the season. “The search is ongoing,” confirmed Kehl. “New” he could not report.
Tricky league start
Against Bayer Leverkusen you will “have to pack a little more”, Kehl remarked on the tricky start of the league in a week against the Champions League competitor. Terzic kept a low profile in the Haller replacement cause. His job as a coach is to focus on “internal solutions”. “You make transfers, but you don’t talk about them,” said the Marco Rose predecessor and successor.
For defense veteran Mats Hummels, the season in Munich began in the unusual role of bank clerk. Terzic relied on a back four with newcomers Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck in the center of defence. Hummels is fit, but first the challenger.
Terzic praised the 33-year-old demonstratively after he came on for Süle, who complained about muscular problems at the break. “He came in and made an excellent game. He was there immediately, very present, very good in tackles, very clear in the passing game. That’s how we imagine it,” said Terzic.
It’s “just the luxury” of a broad squad, “that we don’t have to take any more risks, but can substitute someone with Mats Hummels without losses,” emphasized the BVB coach: “A good team doesn’t just show itself through the players who are on the pitch, but how strong the bench is.”
