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Erling Haaland had played well again. He had scored twice and saved Borussia Dortmund from defeat. Still, the striker was seething with rage. BVB will have to stretch to offer the exceptional striker a long-term perspective.
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Cologne – The pictures of the frustration of the lone fighter Erling Haaland leave plenty of room for interpretation. With an angry face and loud curses, the rescuer of Borussia Dortmund ran into the cabin after the 2: 2 (1: 1) at 1. FC Cologne and did not look at anyone.
He threw his jersey into his opponent Jorge Meré’s arms without waiting for his shirt in return. “You could see his disappointment because he really wanted three points,” said coach Edin Terzic, an understatement.
Of course, these pictures are an expression of the “irrepressible will to win” of the Norwegian goal machine, as Terzic emphasized. Even a last-minute point with two goals of its own does not satisfy Haaland. The pictures are also an expression of tough self-criticism, because the 20-year-old still had chances for a few more hits with a post header. And they can also be interpreted as a sign of pure identification with BVB. Or as a development into the opposite.
Haaland quarreled several times with fellow players or waved them off during the game. It looked as if he had got the – understandable – impression that he had to take care of everything himself. And the hottest striker share in world football would certainly have little desire for the Europa League or even the new Conference League instead of the Champions League.
That is why BVB is not only playing for a place in the premier class in the season’s final spurt. He’s certainly also fighting to be able to offer Haaland a perspective. The contract, which runs until 2024, does not contain an exit clause. And actually it seems clear: If BVB gives up a star in the summer, it is more likely to be Jadon Sancho, who was denied the move to England last year. BVB doesn’t actually want to and doesn’t have to sell all of its silverware in a single summer.
But the entire aristocracy in football is promoting Haaland, and anything but the Champions League stage would not be worthy of it. He has scored 21 goals in 21 Bundesliga games this season, a total of 33 goals in 31 competitive games. When Terzic emphasizes that we are “very happy that he is with us”, it also sounds a little evocative.
Especially since it became apparent on Saturday that without the injured captain Marco Reus, apart from Haaland, not much came from BVB. A bitter relapse after a good last few weeks, which Terzic had “not indicated”. “We’re going into the international break with a bit of disappointment,” said the coach: “We’ll have to look at this table for two weeks now.”
It currently shows four points behind Eintracht Frankfurt. It is therefore impossible to overtake the Hessians, who are in the coveted fourth place, in the following direct duel. A defeat against Frankfurt could even mean a preliminary decision against BVB if there are still seven games left.
This year’s quarter-finalist absolutely needs a win if he wants to experience the festive season in the Champions League again next year. And even an Erling Haaland will probably not be able to do it all by himself.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210321-99-909475 / 2
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