BVB stars make a statement
Kung Fu tackler Hummels sends greetings to Nagelsmann
March 31, 2024, 7:43 a.m
Borussia Dortmund ends its horror series in Munich and deservedly defeats FC Bayern. In the fight to qualify for the Champions League, that’s a big statement. A match winner at BVB: central defender Mats Hummels, who made two big saves.
Mats Hummels was impressed with himself. He liked the way he pulled up his leg to block Eric Dier’s header in the 35th minute. In unison with the fact that this rescue act had probably also prevented the equalization. At this point, Borussia Dortmund was already leading 1-0 at FC Bayern thanks to Karim Adeyemi and later won the game 2-0 with another goal from Julian Ryerson. This ended a terrible series of humiliations for the Black and Yellows at the Allianz Arena.
“It was important that we played a game like this again and that we no longer have to count the years until we finally win in Munich again. We did it in just under ten years,” said the central defender, who is for Both clubs had played big games. “For us, it was also a statement internally that we can do it, that we can play football. If we defend so well as a team, we can achieve good results against top teams. Nothing other than top opponents await us throughout April .” For Dortmund, the league is still about qualifying for the Champions League. And in the premier class itself, Atlético Madrid is waiting in the quarter-finals. A draw that makes the Black and Yellows dream of more.
“Nothing has been decided”
Full commitment.
(Photo: IMAGO/MIS)
Hummels, who continues to vigorously defend himself against being written off too early, played a key role in ensuring that things finally went well again in Munich. In the national team, for which he was no longer nominated by national coach Julian Nagelsmann. And not at BVB either, where he hasn’t always been placed in the past few weeks and where his contract expires this summer. Future uncertain. Recently there was speculation that he could leave the club. “Nothing has been decided in any direction. I think that will actually only be decided for me after the end of the season,” said Hummels after the win on Sky. He had provided many arguments that he could still compete at the highest level.
And there is no lack of passion for the job anyway, as the 35-year-old confirmed. “I feel like it anyway, it just hurts a lot.” But services like those in Munich make the pain more bearable. In the rather deep back four with his really strong partner Nico Schlotterbeck and the tireless full-backs Julian Ryerson and Ian Maatsen, Hummels delivered an outstanding performance in his “record game”. For the 29th time he was part of the German classic. He overtook Dortmund club icon Michael Zorc. Hummels organized, drove the game and was always there when there was a fire. Twice particularly spectacular. Once in minute 35, which he commented: “I’m not fast, but I’ve always been agile.”
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel didn’t think much of the rescue act. He struggled with the referee’s decision and wanted a penalty. Because the ball jumped from Hummels’ own foot to his hand – according to the current interpretation of the rules, the game continued correctly.
“They show that they still have plans for this season”
No passing.
(Photo: IMAGO/Beautiful Sports)
Hummels was there again after 68 minutes. Bayern’s substitute and very agile winger Kingsley Coman broke through on the right side and crossed sharply from full speed into the middle, where striker Harry Kane was lurking. Hummels heroically crossed between them and cleared the ball. Like in the best of times, when he became the nation’s hero alongside Jérôme Boateng. At FC Bayern and in the national team. Will the path take him back there again? Hummels didn’t want to say anything about it. That’s for others to judge, he said. That’s what his relieved sports director Sebastian Kehl did: “Both were unbelievable,” he said of the duo Hummels and Schlotterbeck. “They show that they still have plans for this season,” said Kehl, who was in a great mood.
How realistic is all of this? Not clear. Nagelsmann, who surprisingly was not present at the top game and possibly at his old and new home, had largely closed the door for the European Championship squad on Tuesday evening. After the national team’s two strong performances against France (2:0) and the Netherlands (2:1), he was shocked to reveal that the squad for the home European Championship would not fundamentally change. If there are no injuries, there might be one or two changes to the current squad. If you take the coach’s words seriously, these changes would have already been made with the announced return of Leroy Sané (suspended) and Manuel Neuer (injured).
Still room behind Rüdiger and Tah?
Either way, the absence of all German national players with the exception of striker Niclas Füllkrug had a push effect on Dortmund. Hummels and Schlotterbeck were mainly responsible for the deserved 2-0 (1-0) in the “Klassiker” that Bayern fell into a deep crisis of meaning and were sharply criticized and questioned for their lazy attitude. But other players with DFB ambitions also showed up. Julian Brandt had many good moments as a driver, captain Emre Can was very attentive in midfield and Karim Adeyemi always offered himself as a dangerous counterattack option with his speed.
Given the great competition and their own wild fluctuations, they will hardly be able to jump on the European Championship bandwagon. To do this, they would now have to permanently prove that they are better than the current Nagelsmann favorites. The situation looks different with Hummels and Schlotterbeck; there is still room behind the strong duo Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah if they accept the role as challengers. This is particularly important for the national coach. More important than a jump-in Kung Fu tackle, which can still be understood as a friendly greeting to Nagelsmann.