Having just returned from the DFB international trip, Julian Brandt was the match winner in BVB’s win against Bremen. Brandt is having an excellent season on the wing, but would like to be even more influential.
The jet lag almost knocked Julian Brandt off his bright blue shoes late on Friday evening. “I got the most out of it, it was a wild night in the last two days,” said the match winner Borussia Dortmund after the 1-0 home win over Werder Bremen at the ARD microphone. And Brandt laughed: “It was a successful evening, the mood is good.”
Just 66 hours after Germany’s international match against Mexico on the other side of the Atlantic, Brandt scored a fantastic winning goal against Werder – so BVB’s controversial return campaign on a private plane was worth it.
Brandt scores in his 300th Bundesliga game
But the journey was always strenuous. “I coped with the first night quite well, the night before the game I only got three or four hours of sleep,” Brandt reported to media representatives. However, that didn’t stop him from a magical chip over Werder goalkeeper Michael Zetterer (67th minute) in his anniversary game. The 27-year-old is now the third youngest professional in Bundesliga history with 300 games, only Eike Immel and Charly Körbel were younger.
Julian Brandt is probably playing the best season of his Dortmund career, his series of points scorer now extends to seven matches. But he will probably not play his 301st Bundesliga game next Sunday at Eintracht Frankfurt in his favorite position. Brandt sees himself as the string puller behind the leaders – but he always has to switch to the wing.
“It’s about putting yourself at the service of the team,” said coach Edin Terzic. “We always think about how we can put the puzzle of strengths together.” And Julian Brandt sees the mosaic piece more on the side: with a strong inward urge.
Brandt himself “actually didn’t want to open this debate anymore.” He still had to explain himself: “I interpret the position a little differently than traditional wingers. I try to fit in as much as possible and I think it fits in very well with Marco Reus.” He occupies the center, but also likes to run towards the sideline to dribble at an opponent.
“Hybrid position” in the BVB offensive
Brandt has designed his self-image so that he plays “a kind of hybrid position” between winger and number ten. Definitely responsible for “making the game wide,” but also always clearing the way to the penalty area. He was standing there in the middle when Emre Can played a brilliant interface pass into his foot. Brandt lobbed and cheered, BVB were leaders at the start of the weekend.
However, the national player is not entirely satisfied with his role. “For me it’s both a blessing and a curse when you have a past on the wing,” he said. This means his coach always has the choice to position him on the outside, which Terzic also likes to use. Well, maybe in the next 300. If goals like this end up happening, Julian Brandt has few arguments. At least after the many interviews he was allowed to go to his longed-for place – to bed: “I’m happy – and very tired,” he said.
