At Bayer Leverkusen, Robert Andrich benefited from an injury, while in the DFB team he benefited from the new course under Julian Nagelsmann and the return of Toni Kroos. His qualities are more in demand than ever.
Especially in professional football, it is extremely important to function at the right moment. To show your qualities when they are particularly in demand. In Robert Andrich’s case, this was the case when Exequiel Palacios suffered a muscle injury in the top game between RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen (2:3) in January.
The Argentine and Granit Xhaka had formed the outstanding midfield duo in the Bundesliga to date, and there was only room for Andrich in exceptional cases. But Palacios’ injury changed that, the ex-Union player, who moved to Leverkusen in 2021, moved into the outstanding German team of the season – and ensured that the Werkself remained exactly that. With Andrich in the starting line-up, Xabi Alonso’s team simply continued to win.
Nagelsmann was looking for “players with a different profile”
This circumstance may also have played a big role in Andrich making it into the DFB squad for the friendly matches against France and the Netherlands. The 29-year-old was nominated by Julian Nagelsmann for the third time, but so far it was only enough for a short stint. But then the national coach decided to make changes in the team, which again benefited Andrich.
“It’s important that we don’t just find the most talented individual players with the biggest names,” said Nagelsmann when he announced the squad about two weeks ago. It is also “important to see a few players with a different profile. We hope that the team fits together well, that everyone understands their role and that we can achieve better results in a better way.”
Khedira successor with a long wait
Nagelsmann doesn’t just focus on individual classes, but on roles. Andrich is closing a gap that has existed for many years. Since Sami Khedira, there has been no one in the DFB team who has had the midfield center under control in defense; the large number of goals conceded was the team’s big problem for so long. With Andrich, Nagelsmann is now relying on a player who seems to fulfill a long-standing desire as a clearer.
Robert Andrich took on superstar Kylian Mbappé against France.
Make a strong statement
“Stability and security” were two keywords that Nagelsmann gave him in his role description, Andrich said. Specifically, this means: “How high do we press? Do we tend to let ourselves fall? What space can I move in to be able to lead certain duels?”
It worked well in the test in France (2-0). Andrich set a robust example against superstar Kylian Mbappé and was strong in duels – but the defensive midfielder is now also at an extremely high level of football and was also impressive on the ball. The 29-year-old has taken a big step through Leverkusen’s short passing game.
Andrich has Kroos’ back
However, his main task remains protecting his colleagues – and especially one colleague. The return of Toni Kroos was a signal that the DFB team now needs someone whose first goal is not to take control of the game with the ball. Joshua Kimmich alongside Kroos was therefore no longer imaginable, but rather a player like Casemiro or Aurélien Tchouaméni, who combine playing and fighting strength and with whom Kroos celebrated and is currently celebrating great successes at Real Madrid.
This player is Andrich. He cleared the way for Kroos. This is also an important part of his role in the DFB team: “In the best case, Toni and I harmonize so well that he can give his qualities to the team. Then we are brutally better.”
Andrich: “Profile that can help the team”
After his second international match, Andrich said with conviction that his profile “exudes something that can help the team.” The first impressions proved him right, the next one should come from the game on Tuesday (March 26th, 2024) in Frankfurt against the Netherlands (from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker on sportschau.de). Nagelsmann is likely to rely on him again there, as it is now also a matter of establishing formations.
Andrich qualified for this task alongside Kroos. The DFB team has needed someone like him in recent years, and now in Leverkusen he has got himself into the shape that enables him to take on the role. Andrich is the new DFB bodyguard.
2024-03-25 16:21:00
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