As the Austrian midfielder shone, we almost forgot his huge opportunity wasted in the 3rd minute of play. Present in recovery, construction and exemplary in physical impact, Marcel Sabitzer confirmed his rise in power in previous weeks. But this performance was “without a doubt” his best for Dortmund, says his coach Edin Terzic who nevertheless saw him score a double no later than Saturday in the Bundesliga. “We saw a lot of good games from him. And it’s not a coincidence, he has a lot of qualities and we hope he can continue like this.”
Enough to probably make the leaders of Bayern Munich cringe who paid 15 million euros for him in 2021 but who have never been able to achieve such performances. He left after only eighteen months. First on loan to complete the 2022-2023 season at Manchester United. “He told us he would like more playing time and he is confident he will get it at United”then explained Hasan Salihamidzic, the former CEO of Bayern who never found the exceptional box-to-box Sabitzer that he went to look for in Leipzig.
It had a brutal impact.
Loaned without a purchase option in the Mancunian squad, the Austrian would have seen his stay extended at Old Trafford. “I found my place here. I know the Premier League now and I can say there is nothing better, more intense and harder.” Except that United managers did not respond to his request. Because of a meniscus injury which ended his season prematurely and especially because the recruitment strategy focused instead on two offensive profiles: Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.
”I still took a lot of positive things with mehe explained a few weeks later. I had a smile on my face every day because I could be there and play. A year and a half before, I was sidelined and it wasn't that easy. If you can then prove that you can play a role at a club like this, it’s good for your confidence.”
Dortmund, for their part, immediately jumped at the opportunity, in particular seeing it as an interesting alternative to Jude Bellingham, who had left for Real Madrid. “It is clear that he leaves a void. He is an exceptional player who has accomplished a lot here. But I want to do my part to help ensure that he can be forgotten.”
He showed why we recruited him.
And even if his first months weren't always perfect, the mid-30-year-old has just proven those who believed in him right. “In the last few games he showed why we signed himrejoiced Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke. It is also a clear sign that a player needs to be given time until he integrates into the processes. He is exceptional.”
PSG, against whom it did not start during the group phase, is warned for the semi-final. “A Tuesday evening of the Champions League in front of 80,000 fans: that's what you dream of when you're a little boy. When you can experience this, you are so motivated that you run extra meters. And I'm happy to have been able to help the team. We had Paris in the group, we were beaten away, but at home it was open. We want to get to the final, that’s our goal”was motivated at the microphone of Prime the man who has scored six goals this season, half of them in the space of four days.
