Saturday 23 October 2021
One for the national coach?
Double packer Burkardt appeals to Hansi Flick
U21 national striker Jonathan Burkardt is the outstanding man in the Mainz victory against Augsburg and can be celebrated appropriately. The 05ers then try to keep the ball flat. But national coach Hansi Flick is there live at the Burkardt show – and should have made a note of something.
When Jonathan Burkardt, with beaming eyes, let himself be celebrated with chants in front of the trembling fan base, the ink in Hansi Flick’s notebook had long been dry. Together with his assistant Marcus Sorg, the national coach had watched the intoxicating 4: 1 (3: 0) of FSV Mainz 05 against FC Augsburg in the stands – and he should at the gala appearance of the captain of the U21 national team with two goals and one Originally had a lot of joy.
But Burkardt by no means fell into euphoria. The 21-year-old “didn’t notice” the celebrity visit, as he said at DAZN after his first double in the 50th Bundesliga game, and anyway the striker said: “That’s a minor matter for me. I try to do my performance on the pitch to show and what comes, that comes. “
However, Flick is slowly becoming Burkardt’s lucky charm. Already at the 2-0 in Hoffenheim he had met under the eyes of the national coach. Should Flick want to spare some seasoned national players in the international matches in November after they have already qualified for the World Cup, he could well have the U21 European champion on the slip. Especially since he is looking for alternatives to Timo Werner in the center forward position.
“An unbelievable amount of effort”
The Mainz sports director Christian Heidel tried hard to keep the ball flat. “One thing is clear, he saw him. And what he saw was good,” he said: “But that doesn’t mean that Jonny is already a candidate for the national team.”
Burkardt, who once again impressed with extreme running and duel strength, was as modest as ever. “I’m happy with my performance, but there is still room for improvement,” he said. “Effectiveness is one thing I want to keep working on.” Because even if it worked twice against Augsburg – he missed the coolness in some situations.
But Burkardt’s value for the 05er goes far beyond that anyway. “Jonny plays the football we want to play: an incredible amount of effort, lots of runs,” praised Heidel: “And if he then rewards himself with goals – what could be better?” At some point, a call from Hansi Flick is the logical consequence.