Dortmund’s top scorer spoils the good mood in the club with explosive statements. He feels under pressure, but the club management doesn’t want to understand that. a mistake?
Despite his two goals on Friday evening in the 5-1 (3-0) win over SC Freiburg (Find out more about the game here) Dortmund’s Erling Haaland seemed frustrated. And when his teammates were celebrated by the few hundred fans in front of the south stand after the final whistle, the goalscorer blurted it out in an interview with the Norwegian TV station Viaplay. “For the last six months I’ve decided not to say anything out of respect for Dortmund. Now the club have started to push me to make a decision. But all I want is to play football,” lamented the 21-year-old.
In doing so, the exceptional striker gave vent to his displeasure at the club’s top management’s demand that his future be clarified by March. “You want an answer, so it’s time to get things done,” commented Haaland with an almost threatening undertone. Due to an exit clause, he can leave the second Bundesliga team this summer for 75 million euros despite a contract that runs until 2024.
BVB boss Watzke reacts promptly
In a first reaction to these surprising statements, Hans-Joachim Watzke tried to smooth things over: “Erling is a spontaneous person and still a young boy, he’s allowed to do that, that’s no problem. But he also has to have a little understanding of our situation If he wakes up tomorrow, he will have it,” said the BVB managing director of the “Funke Mediengruppe”.
Watzke thinks Haaland’s accusation of being put under pressure is exaggerated: “There are currently no talks or appointments, so I can’t understand it.” The club cannot wait until May, “that will also make sense to him. As a professional, he has to understand that at some point you will talk about the future.”
But now the question arises:
Is it right that BVB is urging its player Erling Haaland to make a decision?
Florian Wichert
Deputy Editor in Chief
Per
Yes, pressure is absolutely necessary
According to the exit clause in the contract, Haaland has until May to decide – but that would be unfair and selfish towards BVB. Because for Dortmund it is about two fundamentally important questions, the answer to which cannot wait until May: Is our best player gone in the summer? Do we have 75 million euros available or not? Some pressure is not only allowed, but absolutely necessary. On the one hand, the club has had enough players dancing on their noses in recent years. On the other hand, it’s already clear what’s going to happen.
Haaland has scored 78 goals in 77 games. He seems stuck in the body of an alien. Its market value is 150 million euros. In short: Haaland is a world star and has long outgrown BVB.
Staying in Dortmund? Unthinkable! Especially since Haaland’s advisor Mino Raiola has been working on a transfer to a top club for at least nine months. At that time he started a tour through Europe to explore the market. If he hasn’t initiated a transfer in that time, he’s probably not as good as we thought.
“I go.” It’s just these two words that Haaland has to bring across his lips. That shouldn’t be too much even for the taciturn striker. Dortmund could finally plan.
Robert Hiersemann
Head of Football and Sports
against
No, Watzke and Zorc have to rethink
With almost every other footballer you have to act in the same way as the Dortmund club top is currently doing. Because as a manager you need planning security. You just can’t push someone like Erling Haaland to make a decision. He is the team’s life insurance, has a buyout clause and knows the top European clubs are lining up for him.
You could see what happens when you put pressure on a future world star like him on Friday after the game: the Norwegian was pissed off. His frustration with the behavior of his bosses was so great that not even his brace could cheer him up. This is how BVB gambled away its last chance for Haaland to stay.
Watzke, Zorc and Kehl now have to rethink. If you want to keep at least a glimmer of hope for another Haaland season in Dortmund, you have to do something to make the goalscorer feel 100 percent comfortable again. This requires an immoral offer: the top management should give him all the time in the world to think about his own future. And his salary needs to be increased significantly now. He needs to feel how special this club is.
Who is right?
In “Duel of the Week”, Florian Wichert (Deputy Editor-in-Chief at t-online) and Robert Hiersemann (Head of Soccer and Sport) comment on current soccer topics on a weekly basis.
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