At Borussia Dortmund there is a change that could not go unnoticed by the captain. Stefan Effenberg sees a possible successor who is currently under massive criticism.
“Next Zoff”, “Is he going too far?”, “Bellingham becoming a problem now?” or “The Malocher-Motzki” – at Borussia Dortmund nobody is as much in focus as the 18-year-old huge talent Jude Bellingham.
The Briton initially had his team-mate Nico Schulz at the European Cup against the Glasgow Rangers berated on the pitch: “You can’t play a damn pass, you’re damn shit!” In the next game against Augsburg, he should not be very accessible to tactical instructions from veterans at half-time Axel Witsel have been – and are supposed to be causing cracks in the team anyway with his resistance to advice.
Effenberg: This BVB talent is already a leading player
After Dortmund’s coach Marco Rose defended the midfielder (“Jude wants to win games, he’s angry – and that’s what makes him special and what we actually need more of”), goes the t-online columnist Stefan Effenberg further.
He says of the dispute with Schulz: “No athlete weighs his words during a game. Bellingham pushes his teammates to the limit – that makes him a leader.”
Jude Bellingham has been a spokesman at BVB from a young age. (Source: Sven Simon/imago images)
He explains: “A stinker doesn’t make a leader. But a leader has to be a stinker. And that’s true of Bellingham.”
In his column on BVB, the 53-year-old recently called for the consequences of Dortmund’s extremely disappointing season. He suggested that the club not stop at big names and, for example, the contracts of the captain Marco Reus and his deputy Mats Hummels not to be extended prematurely beyond 2023.
Effenberg already sees a potential successor in Bellingham. He says: “The consistently strong performances and the trust of coaches and bosses make Bellingham a possible BVB captain – maybe as early as the summer.”
Stinky Boots or Leader? t-online columnist Stefan Effenberg also discusses this on Sunday in “double pass” on Sport 1 with the former Dortmunder Stephen friendex-national player Inca Grings and moderator Florian Koenig.