Sébastien Haller is rarely emotional in public, let alone sentimental. But on this Sunday evening in Augsburg, he allowed his listeners a brief glimpse into his innermost being. “If someone had told me six months ago that I would be in this situation – I wouldn’t have believed it,” said the Borussia Dortmund striker. Half a year ago, no one believed in the chance of actually becoming German champions with a home win over Mainz 05 next weekend – Haller himself probably even less.
Because six months ago, the Ivorian had just won the toughest fight of his life. On June 18, 2022, while he was at a summer training camp in Switzerland with BVB, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Dealing with it mentally was the hardest thing of all. Haller then had to endure four intervals of chemotherapy and two surgeries. But he didn’t let himself be defeated. In December, much earlier than had been thought possible, he began working toward his comeback. In January, when BVB was back at the training camp, he got back into team training.
But Haller returned to a team that seemed completely hopeless in terms of the title race. Dortmund were sixth in the table when they resumed play after the winter break – nine points behind FC Bayern. It’s a long way that Edin Terzic’s team then went. Without Haller, as the BVB coach has emphasized several times, he simply would not have been viable.
Sébastien Haller celebrates in the final stretch of the Bundesliga – a scene that seemed impossible just a few months ago
Source: AP/Matthias Schrader
Because for Terzic’s preferred style of play, a classic nine, a consistent occupation of the penalty area is absolutely necessary – not only because of the greater goal danger that a real center forward promises. “How Sébastien lengthens the ball, keeps the defense busy and also provides relief, all of that is very important,” said the coach. That’s why he fought for Haller last summer. At that time, BVB needed a successor to Erling Haaland. Terzic quickly chose the 28-year-old, for whom 30 million euros had to be transferred to Ajax Amsterdam.
The penetrating power returned with Haller
After Haller’s illness, Terzic was missing a crucial building block. The only alternative the squad offered was Youssoufa Moukoko. Terzic has a close relationship with the then 17-year-old, but he doesn’t see him as a clear centre-forward. A replacement was signed in Anthony Modeste – a misunderstanding. The ex-Cologne player didn’t fit Dortmund’s style of play. The fact that the Dortmund game before the World Cup break was characterized by a lot of idling on the offensive wasn’t just due to Haller’s absence. There were many other problems as well.
But the penetrating power only returned with Haller, who was used for the first time in the first leg against FC Augsburg on January 22 (4:3). BVB finally had a stop player again, even if Haller still needed time to find his way back to his old form. He had to rework the automatisms. In addition, he still lacked strength in particularly intense games. Nevertheless, he completed all 21 competitive games in 2023. He scored nine goals. Haller has been in top form since the beginning of May, with wingers Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen benefiting from this in particular. In the last three games he has scored five times in total.
Sébastien Haller celebrates his 2-0 goal against FC Augsburg
Source: AP/Matthias Schrader
His last goals for the time being could have been the most important of his career. He gave BVB the lead on Sunday (58th minute) and then made the dream of the championship very vivid when he was able to decide the game 2-0 in the 84th minute. It was a scavenger hunt. “The lightest are always the best,” joked the man who has never been able to take it easy on himself over the past few months.
“We suffered a lot with him”
But in Augsburg, said Haller, he felt even before the game that BVB would not fail this time. “We knew that we had missed some great chances,” he explained. “But this time we stayed with ourselves.” The players talked a lot among themselves, vowing to see the great opportunity that would arise after Bayern’s defeat the day before had. The team had made it their goal to “stay true to our principles and be patient.”
It succeeded. BVB stayed cool – until it was redeemed by Haller. The approach should be similar next Saturday. In the processes up to the kick-off against Mainz, there should be no changes compared to those in the past few weeks. Nothing should disturb concentration on the home stretch. And if things get hectic again in the game, you still have to keep your head clear.
“No matter what happens, the biggest miracle is that Sébastien is back with us,” said Terzic when asked about his center forward on Sunday evening. But this time he didn’t talk about his importance for the statics of the game, but about the “man” Sébastien Haller. “We missed him so much with his positive energy, with his will – both in the dressing room and on the pitch,” explained the coach: “We suffered a lot with him, we suffered a lot without him.” That’s in the past. Haller and his team are ready to complete the difficult journey.
