Paulo Otavio is once again in the fast lane. In the absence of Jerome Roussillon, who is still in cautious training after his COVID-19 illness, the Wolfsburg convinced in Leverkusen (1-0) as a famously two-way left-back with an offensive urge.
Didn’t want to be an athlete, but a footballer: Paulo Otavio.
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The initial phase initially gave rise to fears. The VfL got no access in Leverkusen, Paulo Otavio allowed opponent Moussa Diaby time and time again a dangerous cross. Over time, however, the Wolfsburg found his way into the game and then delivered an almost perfect performance. He won 30 duels (duel rate 86 percent), with speed, technique and robustness, he boiled off his opponents, whether they were called Diaby, Leon Bailey or Karim Bellarabi. “Overall,” says managing director Jörg Schmadtke, praising his left-back, “that was outstanding.” Paulo Otavio (kicker grade 2) himself says: “I am very satisfied with my performance.”
The Brazilian ensures that VfL have no problem at the back left despite the Roussillon failure. Paulo Otavio was already on the verge of surpassing the French in an internal duel last May, when an ankle injury threw him back. He was injured too much recently, says the 26-year-old, but now he is “100 percent stable”. And in a position to actually oust Roussillon? “That’s a question for the coach,” evaded Paulo Otavio.
Always one of the fastest
He is on the move fast. With a measured 35.53 km / h, the statistics currently show him as the fourth fastest player in the league, only Bayern Alphonso Davies (35.94 km / h) and Kingsley Coman (35.68) and the ex-Schalke Rabbi Matondo (35 , 66) were even faster this season. Paulo Otavio, who grew up in Ourinhos in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, noticed early on that he was quick. “When I was five,” he says. “We competed on the road, I was always in front.” A talent he might have from his uncle who was a track and field athlete. But he himself wanted to become a professional footballer, he always played with the older ones, learned to bite through. “I was never the greatest talent, there were players like Neymar. But I was good.” And initially he was also actively involved – the kicking buddies named him after his role model. “I wanted to be like Robinho.” But when he comes to a new club and there are already five attackers fighting for places, he tells the coach that he is a left-back. “I stayed that way” – with an aggressive drive.
The dream of the Selecao
Which brings him to Austria in 2016. Linz ASK, trainer Oliver Glasner. “Sure,” says Otavio, “it was only Austria, back then only the second division. But I was in Europe. I always wanted to go there.” In 2017 I’m going to Ingolstadt, then to Wolfsburg, back to Glasner. Step by step. Where can this lead to? Paulo Otavio also dreams the dream that every Brazilian footballer has. “Of course I would like to play for Selecao, when the coach calls me I’ll be ready,” he said last year. But he also knows: “The competition in Brazil is huge. It’s not realistic at the moment.” With performances like in Leverkusen, however, he makes people sit up and take notice.
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