Borussia Dortmund has great chances this season of becoming German champions for the first time in a long time.Image: AP / Martin Meissner
Bundesliga
The last time FC Bayern didn’t win the German championship was eleven years ago. And Roman Weidenfeller played an enormous part in the downfall of Bayern.
The goalkeeper was a crucial factor in Borussia Dortmund’s last two championships, in seasons 2010/11 and 2011/12. It could be that time again this year. With five games left to play in the season, BVB is one point ahead of FC Bayern at the top of the table.
“I believe in the title. The signal that the team gave after the disappointing 3: 3 in Stuttgart was very serious – not only to the people in Dortmund, but to the whole league,” says the ex-keeper of “Sport Bild” with a view to the 4 :0-victory of BVB last weekend against Frankfurt.
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Weidenfeller only demands victories from BVB
In the remaining five games against Bochum, Wolfsburg, Gladbach, Augsburg and Mainz, it is now up to Borussia to finish at the top.
That’s why Weidenfeller describes all games as “finals, which I think BVB must win”, even if it won’t be easy. There shouldn’t be any more slip-ups at this point in the season. The fear of possible mistakes should “play no role in the minds of the players”.
Roman Weidenfeller was twice German champion with Borussia Dortmund. Image: IMAGO images / Thomas Bielefeld
Weidenfeller sees two BVB stars as trumps
According to the 2014 world champion, the fact that the long-awaited championship title could actually work out is due to two players who should also be of decisive importance in the final spurt of the season: Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and attacker Donyell Malen.
“It’s incredible how Donyell has snapped in the last couple of games. I’m extremely happy for the lad. Mainly because I’ve heard again and again that during training he can score from any position,” says Weidenfeller about the Dutchman.
In the past five games alone, he has six goals and three assists. Before that, he had only scored one goal in the entire season.
Gregor Kobel (left) and Donyell Malen are currently in top form at BVB. Image: dpa / Tom Weller
Weidenfeller also praised Gregor Kobel’s development and described it as “madness”. The 42-year-old was particularly impressed by how Kobel dealt with his mistake in the 4-2 defeat against FC Bayern when he missed the ball when trying to clear it and it rolled into the goal.
“It’s an unbelievable quality to come back like this after your mistake in Munich. The mistake can happen, the timing was annoying, but that’s human. It is much more important that he does not let himself be diverted from his path. For me, he’s a winner,” praised Weidenfeller.
Now it’s up to the entire Dortmund team to show that in the remaining five games.
