Due to injury, Gregor Kobel has not played a competitive game for Borussia Dortmund for over a month. Even in BVB’s 2-2 draw against FC Bayern on Saturday evening, the goalkeeper was not fully operational and only took a seat on the substitutes’ bench. In the medium term, Kobel is expected to make the leap into the world class, which could eventually lead him to Munich.
At least that’s what Lothar Matthäus and Holger Badstuber believe, two long-time Bayern players who appeared on the football talk show “Sky90“discussed the personnel.
Record national player Matthäus judged the 24-year-old that, in addition to his already outstanding performances, he has recently had consistency in his performances. He also “gave confidence in his defenders” and thus introduced a particularly important element in goalkeeping.
“If you have that confidence in the back that Kobel gives the team and radiates, then he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga,” said the 61-year-old, who was asked if the Dortmund goalkeeper could be a potential successor to Manuel Neuer at the FC Bayern could become: “Sometime yes.”
Kobel still has a contract with BVB until 2026
Ex-national player Holger Badstuber, who celebrated six German championships with FC Bayern between 2009 and 2017, even went one step further: “He has made a great development, is clear and understands the game. If you have one behind you, he radiates something that you know is ready, it’s just good. Gregor has the skills.”
The 33-year-old currently describes Bayern’s captain Manuel Neuer as “the ultimate”. However, he believes his former team-mate from VfB Stuttgart in the 2019/2020 season can make the leap to the highest level of performance and thus also to FC Bayern in the medium term: “Gregor can develop very well and can really become a world-class goalkeeper in the long run.”
By the way: The contract of the Dortmund regular keeper at BVB runs long-term until 2026.