Following his signing from Bayern Munich, Marcel Sabitzer will be the 31st player to attend a training camp in the USA with Borussia Dortmund. There are also some young talents in the squad. sport.de takes a look at the hopefuls who made it into the black and yellow tour group. What is particularly piquant, however, is the absence of a storm gem, with which there have already been disagreements in the past.
When BVB announced on Monday the staff that would be on the plane to San Diego, stars like Mats Hummels and Marco Reus were also on the list, along with some lesser-known players. Keeper Marian Kirsch, defenders Guille Bueno, Hendry Blank, midfielder Ole Pohlmann and attacking duo Samuel Bamba and Paul-Philipp Besong are still waiting for a competitive game for the BVB pros. In the USA, the sextet could position themselves for this goal.
Marian Kirsch (19) – goalkeeper
For Kirsch, the dream of making a professional debut is likely to remain a very vague one for the time being. Borussia Dortmund is currently well positioned in goal with Gregor Kobel. Behind them, a reliable backup has established itself in Alexander Meyer. In the battle for third place in the squad, Marcel Lotka should continue to have the edge.
For 19-year-old Kirsch, 2023/24 is more likely to be about getting appearances in the 3rd division at BVB. With Lotka, Silas Ostrzinski and newcomer Tiago Esteves, the competition is not exactly small there either. The fact that Kirsch is in the US squad is a pointer.
Guille Bueno (20) – left-back
The Spaniard moved from his homeland to BVB in 2021, where he is now a top performer in the U23s. His advantage: On the defensive flank, the number of professionals among the professionals is currently still quite thin. At the latest in the case of failures, the bustling Spaniard could get a chance. Problem: Bueno’s body has often thwarted the plan in the past.
“Right now I’m important in my team, the reserve team. […]. So everything that has to do with the first team – my debut – is a good goal for this season,” Bueno told AS in November 2022. That didn’t happen. Now Bueno wants to try again.
Samuel Bamba (19) – Right winger
In 2022/23, Bamba particularly impressed with his enormous speed and breathtaking dribbling in the U19s (29 appearances/6 goals/4 assists). With his good performances, the 19-year-old even recommended himself for a debut in the 3rd division, where he should twirl in the coming year.
After Bamba’s first appearance in the 3rd division, BVB II coach Jan Zimmermann also emphasized that the youngster still had work to do: “After two minutes everyone said: ‘Wow, why doesn’t he play from the start’. After a quarter of an hour everyone asked: ‘Where is he?'” said Zimmermann at the end of May. Tackling behavior and fitness should be improved so that Bamba can keep his pace “45, 60, 90 minutes”.
If this step succeeds quickly, Bamba could have a chance. Especially since players like Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Gio Reyna have often struggled with injuries in the past.
Bamba also set a first exclamation point in the tight 3-2 test against Rot-Weiss Oberhausen when he scored the winning goal just before the final whistle.
Ole Pohlmann (22) – Central midfield
“I’m overjoyed that I’ve had the chance to sign my professional contract with BVB. I’ll continue to step on the gas every day, […] and I hope to be able to celebrate my Bundesliga debut here one day,” said Pohlmann at the end of June when he signed his first professional contract after a strong third division season (31 appearances/3 goals/8 assists).
However, getting nominations for the Bundesliga matchday squad will probably be a difficult undertaking for the central midfielder. Especially since Borussia have signed well-known competitors with Felix Nmecha and Marcel Sabitzer this summer.
Paul-Philipp Bessong (22) – center forward
A strong loan season at the third division club Erzgebirge Aue brought Bessong back to BVB in the summer of 2023, who brought his long-time youth player back from 1. FC Nürnberg.
In the test against Westfalia Rhynern (7:0), Besong already shone in preparation with a brace. For the chance of promotion to the professionals, the 22-year-old would have to score numerous goals in the 3rd division. Because Besong is firmly planned for the U23, who recently lacked goalscorers.
Hendry Blank (18) – centre-back
At 18, Blank is the youngest of the surprise players in the squad for the US trip. In the past season, however, the central defender was able to establish himself with the U19s, and in 2023/24 it should even continue with the U23s. For the time being, the nomination for the upcoming test matches is probably not much more than a reward for the rapid rise.
The case of Julian Rijkhoff (18) – center forward
Speaking of rewards: The fact that Julian Rijkhoff was denied could still cause explosives at BVB.
The 18-year-old Dutchman is one of the greatest offensive talents in Europe and was the shining light of the Dortmund A-Juniors in 2022/23 with 26 goals and six assists in 32 games.
As far as further career planning is concerned, Rijkhoff’s advisor Dick van Burik and Dortmund are at odds. “We have a different view of the current situation,” van Burik confirmed to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”, which revealed that the club management should again have serious concerns about the physical requirements of the junior national player.
According to the newspaper, this requires training regularly with the professionals in the new season and then switching back and forth between U23 and U19. The BVB bosses, on the other hand, are convinced that regular assignments and training sessions in the third division team would be better for Rijkhoff.
Rijkhoff got his chance against Rhynern when he scored and was praised by BVB coach Edin Terzic. However, it was not enough for the trip to the USA.
No wonder rumors about a change of club have recently been fueled again. The striker, who is strong in the air, only extended his contract “long-term” in February.
Jannis Bartling