Even Erling Haaland is amazed: A world-class monster is growing up at BVB

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Even Erling Haaland is amazed
A world-class monster is growing up at BVB

By Tobias Nordmann

Borussia Dortmund exists in the heated atmosphere at Besiktas Istanbul. Although again no game without conceding a goal, BVB is surprisingly mature for the start of the new season of the Champions League – especially the 18-year-old teenager Jude Bellingham.

There are two things to say about Erling Haaland this Wednesday evening. The BVB striker (of course) scored a goal, it was the temporary 2-0 in Dortmund’s 2-1 victory at the start of the new season of the Champions League at Besiktas Istanbul. It was already the 13th goal in just the eleventh premier class game for Borussia. The second thing to say about Haaland is a lot more unusual: The Norwegian wasn’t the match winner this time. The second phenomenal youngster from Dortmund seized this role. And the 18-year-old Jew Bellingham did it again in a remarkable way. “This is a great boy,” said his coach Marco Rose.

On Strobelallee they have known for a long time that the teenager is a really good guy. But did they really suspect in the summer of last year what a coup they had achieved? It seems likely. They took 25 million euros into their hands for an English second division player. He now provides the proof: Bellingham is becoming more and more of a sensation at Borussia. Like the same age Jamal Musiala with the big rival from Munich. But while the German international at Bayern is still a man who rotates between the starting line-up and the bench, Bellingham, the England international, is already an indispensable constant this season. And not just as a footballer, but also as a boss. In addition to Mo Dahoud, whose development at BVB has also been very remarkable for six months, the Englishman drives the game greedily and relentlessly. He rules with an impressive positional game, organized with clever passes, prepares goals or scores them himself. Coach Rose couldn’t get out of the raptures: “His mentality, his willingness to work for the team, the intensity with which he plays football , the will to win and the football solutions he finds. That is extraordinary. ”

Everything that distinguishes this player and him in the summer of next year at the latest will make the hunted sensation on the transfer market, Bellingham squeezed into the 100 minutes from Istanbul. He scored the first goal himself, after a very good preparatory work by Thomas Meunier, who as a right-back shows a slow but steady upward trend. Bellingham processed the cross with his fine technique. He let the ball drip from his chest, laid it down in one movement and pushed it from an acute angle through the legs of goalkeeper Ersin Destanoğlu. Then he put his finger to his mouth and silenced the stadium, which is considered the loudest in Europe at full capacity. This made the Englishman the youngest player to score a goal in two consecutive Champions League games, regardless of the season. He replaced France’s world star Kylian Mbappé. “Nice,” he commented casually, adding, “I want to be the one to get three for the first time.”

Too many superlatives? No!

Not only does Bellingham play with a maximum of confidence, he cheers that way too. Not everyone likes that. At the club he only got a rebuke last weekend for his provocative joy after the spectacular victory at Bayer Leverkusen. Bellingham had caught a beer mug furiously fired from the stands of the BayArena and indicated a drink for the winner. Some found it amusing. The others, namely: Team Manager Sebastian Kehl, found it arrogant. As shy as the 18-year-old looks, he cheers extroverted on the pitch. Even after the second goal in Istanbul. Haaland had achieved this after sensational preparatory work by the Englishman. With the closest ball control and the best overview. If that’s too many superlatives for you, you just have to look at the scene to understand.

The fact that BVB won this uncomfortable game quite confidently was mainly due to Bellingham’s impressive maturity. But also to goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. After just six minutes, he had prevented his team from falling defensively this season. His parade against the ex-Dortmund Michy Batshuayi was world class. There is more and more the impression that BVB has very sensibly eliminated a weak point in the squad by signing the goalkeeper. Also in the second half he unnerved Batshuayi with a very strong save. When Francisco Montero hit the header in the 94th minute, he was without a chance. The fact that it was again very briefly exciting was also due to the fact that Ansgar Knauff, also such a talent with a strong perspective, had skipped the 3-0 shortly before. After a perfect pass from Marius Wolf, the 19-year-old slammed the ball against the crossbar and not into the empty goal. Bellingham also forgave once. Michael Zorc forgave him. “Yes, he could have done another one,” said the sports director after the game.

A small flaw remains

BVB could get over it. Coach Marco Rose was not quite as relaxed about the fact that his team did not get away without conceding a goal again. “We have now won the third game in a row and started the Champions League with a win. That is always important. In the back, that is the obligatory number that we make the game exciting.” Well, it wasn’t really exciting, because Besiktas no longer came dangerously in front of the gate. But Bellingham, who incidentally was no longer on the pitch when the goal was conceded, thought that not everything was great: “It was a bit like basketball: every attack was followed by a counterattack.” It should be a little quieter for BVB. Here, too, the English will be challenged more. While black and yellow works really well to very well forwards, this does not apply to the defense so far. Even if Istanbul was a step forward.

For the defensive, for the club and especially for Bellingham. The club falls in love with this player a little more every second. And Erling Haaland does it in a very special way, he smells the super talent as his “partner in crime” for the really big things. “Jude is incredible. He’s 18 years old and three years younger than me. What can I say: He’s awesome. You know my love for the Champions League and I enjoyed the game. My dream is to win it – I hope I can do that once in my life. “