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Dortmund's Roman Bürki: The end of a terrible work week

2021-01-23T09:13:28.909Z


Roman Bürki's number of goals has doubled in the last three games. In addition to outstanding saves, the BVB keeper repeatedly makes mistakes that the team cannot correct at the moment.


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Roman Bürki and Jude Bellingham from Dortmund as well as Gladbach's Alassane Plea (from left)

Photo: 

UWE KRAFT / imago images / Uwe Kraft

After the final whistle, someone with a yellow jersey mixed into the Gladbach jubilee cluster near the center circle.

For Manuel Akanji there was by no means any reason to cheer, but he joined his Swiss compatriots, four of whom had been used by the Gladbach team.

At Borussia Dortmund there were two, besides Akanji, Roman Bürki - but he immediately disappeared into the cabin.

For Bürki it was the end of a terrible working week in which the number of goals conceded doubled: The 1: 1 against Mainz was followed by a 1: 2 at Bayer Leverkusen, then 2: 4 at the other Borussia.

In his 16 Bundesliga appearances this season - the Swiss Lucien Favre had set up the Swiss Marwin Hitz twice - Bürki conceded 26 goals, two more than Arminia Bielefeld in the row.

Does Bürki meet the requirements?

These numbers say nothing about the quality of a goalkeeper.

It is more worrying that, statistically, Bürki does not keep one out of three shots on goal.

But since the quality of opportunities can also vary greatly, the individual cases should be considered.

But even these do not speak for him in the past week.

A long-range shot by Levin Öztunali rushed into the goal against Mainz, and the question arose whether it could not be saved or whether it would have been saved by other goalkeepers - the reference is there Manuel Neuer.

In Leverkusen, Bürki set a season record for sustained shots, but the question arose as to whether he could not also have prevented the two hits.

In Gladbach it was criticized that he should have tried to intercept the free-kick flank when his Swiss compatriot Nico Elvedi scored the first goal.

At Elvedi's second goal there were also benevolent voices who said that Bürki had previously been blocked from the free kick.

Possible, a goalkeeper from Borussia Dortmund still has to clarify the situation better.

More than ever after this week, the question arises whether Bürki meets the requirements of a club that wants to play in the Champions League every year and almost has to do so from an economic point of view.

Before last season, Dortmund had even made claims to the championship.

At that time, the signatures also fell on a new contract for Bürki, which is valid until summer 2023.

"This means that an important position is well filled for the long term," said sports director Michael Zorc.

The club ignored the fact that BVB's number one had weak values ​​back then.

Parades that leave you amazed

Some glossy games, such as those achieved this season, for example in the Champions League against Lazio Rome, covered the weaknesses.

Bürki feels comfortable when he is just in front of his line and shots come from half distance.

Then he can fly, reflexively raising his hands.

Then parades succeed and the observers are amazed.

As soon as he has to get out of the gate, the quality drops, also because he often hesitates.

In dubio per goal line.

A modern goalkeeper - Manuel Neuer again serves as a reference - can be a libero and a good player opener.

Bürki is neither nor.

There is usually a much larger area between BVB's back four and the goalkeeper than with Bayern.

So the ways are longer to intercept steep passes, so the risk increases that the opponent can easily get behind the chain.

There was a phase under the coach Thomas Tuchel, in which Bürki should and did play more courageously.

In a game that is essentially about creating an outnumbered situation close to the ball, a strong footballer as a goalkeeper is extremely important.

But Bürki hardly plays along.

Most of the time he takes back passes to pass the ball a few meters across or far forward.

The chance that header duels will be won in the attacking midfield, which was initially formed in Gladbach with Julian Brandt, Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho, are slim.

The long strikes often end up as a bad pass.

The structure at BVB lacks a component that other teams have, especially in international comparison.

The deficits can be compensated if the defense remains largely flawless and the offensive - i.e. Erling Haaland - hits.

At the moment, there is seldom a combination of these at BVB. 

Icon: The mirror

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-01-23

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