From a purely genetic point of view, Julian Brandt benefited from what was probably the most intensive exercise of Thursday morning training at BVB. As an exception, the Borussia Dortmund kickers shouldn’t score with their feet, but pass the balls to each other with their hands and complete them with their heads.
Julian Brandt answered questions from a media panel on Thursday.
imago images/Kirchner-Media
It was always amusing, obviously while playing as well as watching. It remains to be seen whether Brandt, whose mother Heike used to play handball, could take advantage of it. At least after the unit, he stood confidently in the media round and talked about …
… the insights from the game at TSG Hoffenheim: “Goals conceded is of course a problem, which still happens to us too often this season, we concede too many goals. We often defend well, but not consistently over the 90 minutes. That will also be an issue against Leverkusen, We won’t stop that overnight. We have to keep at it, even if it gets a bit annoying in the long run. You don’t do it extra. I think everyone doesn’t allow Gregor Kobel a few clean sheets. The opponents They have a very good offensive and especially against Leverkusen it can be a very good step forward if we concede as few goals as possible.”
That style of play just takes time.
Julian Brandt on the pressing
… the many goals conceded: “We’ve been playing very high and very extreme pressing since this season. I don’t think you can perfect that in a matter of months. I played under Roger Schmidt pressing for two and a half years. It’s not all that easy, it really has to be in the end every detail works. And if one or two guys are missing in the pressing or you don’t do it 100 percent consistently, it’s easy for the opponent to play out there. The spaces are extremely large for the opponent. I think we’re on top of each other at the moment We’re still developing and we haven’t perfected it yet. Nevertheless, I think we should keep at it because we have so many opportunities. The Freiburg game is the best example. When Erling Haaland made it 3-0, we won the ball in in the opponent’s half and then it’s not far to the goal.It’s always difficult because you want everything to work straight away and get it perfect right away, but that’s the style of play it just takes time.”
… the training focus during the game break: “Yesterday we trained very intensively in duels, both offensively and defensively. So a lot of one-on-one, two-on-two, and of course eleven-on-eleven. We have to be compact and defend in the penalty area – that’s it the subject. The coach will continue to focus on more areas over the next few days where he feels we can improve.”
… the upcoming game against ex-club Leverkusen: “Of course, I’m always happy to play against the club because I still know a lot of people there and have played with a lot of them. But I also know that the games have always been very turbulent in recent years. There are always a lot of goals both in Leverkusen and in Dortmund. Basically, I think we just have to prepare very, very well, that we have to pick up where we left off in the last few games, even if they weren’t really great. We have to be focused, Leverkusen have always been a good team in recent years.”
… a possible absence of Erling Haaland: “We already had a phase during the season in which Erling was injured and we managed that relatively well. So I’m not worried about that because we simply have good players. It would be for us midfielders and for all the other offensive players mean that we have to score more goals. But I’m in good spirits there too and have faith in the lads. So of course we hope that things will go as quickly as he hopes for Erling. But on the other hand I’m not afraid before the next few weeks, because Erling is a bit shaky. There are enough guys who can provide assists and score goals.”
…about his achievements: “It’s about continuing there. At the end of the first half of the season, the game in Berlin was a thorn in my side, it was a bitter evening. What I’ve often been accused of in the last year or two was the lack of scorer points. Stick to that “I’m determined, I want to continue to get countables. Of course, the performance on the pitch has to be right, that goes without saying. That’s a process for me too and there will certainly be one or the other game in which you don’t “I’m happy with myself. Expectations are high, I know that, but overall I’m staying true to myself and I’m in good spirits that the second half of the season will continue like the first half of the season.”
…the remaining goals for the current season: “That will show up and develop. For the time being, we are extremely well advised to be humble in the coming weeks and to approach the matter with a great deal of seriousness, not to think too far outside the box. Of course it’s always nice to to talk about certain goals for the season and to have ideas about what it would be like at Borsigplatz. But in the end that is the wrong approach. I think that with the results of the past one or two months we are well advised to concentrate on the essentials. “Of course I want to achieve the optimum and win every game. But in the end it’s not that easy either, there’s extreme resistance. If we continue like this in the Bundesliga, I’ll skip the cup game, that’s a good trend and we have to continue.”
… the upcoming games in the Europa League: “The competition has become a bit more attractive with the introduction of the Conference League. We’re playing in Glasgow now, a nice goal for football romantics too. I think we’re really up for it, despite our disappointment that we’re in the didn’t hibernate in the Champions League. But sometimes in life you have to accept certain things as they are. In every competition there is another chance at the end. We’re happy to be in this competition and we’ll try to get as far as we can as possible.”
I don’t think my time in the national team is over yet.
… his national team career: “Of course, the year I wasn’t there wasn’t nice. I’ve been with the national team for four years, if you’re not there for a year it’s a change and you have to swallow first. It’s for me First of all, it’s important to stick with it and keep fighting for a place there. I have a very good exchange with the coach. In the end, everything shows up about the performance in the club. That’s what the national coach values most. If everything works, “I’m in good spirits that things can go on like this. In spite of all that, of course, I have to give everything during the international matches because we have extremely good players at the moment. You can see what’s coming, it’s incredible. But I think It’s not that my time in the national team is over. It’s just an annoying kink now, but I won’t let that get me down in the end.”
