Defender Mats Hummels, of all people, became the match winner with a brace in BVB’s 4:2 (1:2) win at SC Freiburg. Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic then gave special praise to his protégé.
Hummels did a “really good job,” emphasized the coach, who recently came under criticism. The veteran scored in the 11th and 88th minutes – and thus played a major role in the Black and Yellows’ second win of the season in the Bundesliga.
The 34-year-old also scored in the 16th season in a row, setting a league record. He also overtook Frank Mill as the oldest Bundesliga double goalscorer in BVB history.
“It was a very special game for Mats,” said Terzic, who had called the experienced defender into the starting line-up instead of Niklas Süle. His trust was rewarded: By sport.de Hummels received the great one Grade 1.5.
In the embarrassing 2:2 (2:0) against newly promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim before the international break, Hummels languished on the bench for 90 minutes.
BVB: Hummels played a “significant role” in the liberation
Terzic reported that he had an “open conversation” with Hummels before the game in Freiburg. The Menden native revealed that after the Heidenheim game he also asked himself what could have been done differently.
“In the game, we gave up the lead and lost our structure and our head a bit,” said Terzic: “The learning was that in a phase like this, someone like Mats Hummels is really good for a team can, to demand positional discipline and passes.”
It’s not always easy from the sidelines given the noise in the stadium. It worked “much better” against Freiburg and Hummels played a “significant part” in it.