Marcel Sabitzer played a starring role in the Champions League victory over Newcastle with the former Manchester United loanee impressing in his new Borussia Dortmund home.
The kids are alright at BVB. Dortmund have long since established themselves as something of a footballing nursery school for some of Europe’s most exciting up-and-coming talents, from Erling Haaland to Jadon Sancho.
Where the German giants have often fallen short in recent seasons, however, is when it comes to supplementing those budding wunderkinds with a crop of experienced campaigners, the club’s underperforming oldies often undermining the excellent work of their baby-faced juniors.
Marcel Sabitzer, however, could be about to buck that particular trend.
The veteran Austrian moved to Dortmund from Bayern Munich over the summer, following a short-lived loan spell at Manchester United.
And Sabitzer’s big-game nous and technical quality shone through as Dortmund clipped the wings of a Newcastle side who soared past PSG last time out, marking his first start since September with a display of finesse and ferocity.
Marcel Sabitzer impressing after Manchester United exit
“It was about us knowing that Marcel is extremely confident on the ball. We wanted them to play the ball forward and let the attackers hit them. And Marcel is very good at anticipating and stealing these balls,” head coach Edin Terzic tells DAZN of Sabitzer, returning after a spell out injured.
“We had a fantastic first-half in which we deserved to win. In the second-half we defended (the lead given to us in the 45th minute by Felix Nmecha).
“We knew Marcel Sabitzer was good on the ball. We wanted to prepare for the way they play, and we wanted him to keep the ball for us. You couldn’t tell that he was coming back from an injury.”
Man United opted against turning Sabitzer’s loan deal into a permanent contract over the summer, Dortmund then stumping up £16 million to bring the former RB Leipzig captain to Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund defeat Newcastle
“I think I’m doing well,” Sabitzer smiles, via Servus TV. “After a long injury break, it’s important to get your rhythm back. Since it was a game where it goes back and forth, I was (thinking); ‘First of all, be careful about that. How long can I keep going at this pace?’
“90 minutes was enough. So, I’m very happy with that.”
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