Borussia Dortmund’s external advisor Matthias Sammer has backed Mats Hummels, who was heavily criticized after the defeat against FC Bayern. He accused the critics of a lack of expertise.
“You don’t have to talk about the fact that Mats played his best game for BVB on Saturday. But I would like to discuss the matter in a more differentiated manner,” said Sammer in an interview with the Sports picture a. The blanket justification of many critics that Hummels lost speed, but he does not apply.
“Speed differs in running speed, quick action and anticipation. The fact that pure running speed is not that of a top sprinter was discussed at Mats ten years ago. That is a fact,” explained Sammer and offended the leaders: ” It is wrong to reduce Mats to running speed at a somewhat older age. This is why this discussion has been conducted on a wrong, irrelevant level. “
This is also shown by the statistics. The report of the Sports picture according to Hummels anyway, the same opinion. In the 2: 3 against FC Bayern Hummels, who looked unhappy with all three goals against, did not lose a running duel.
Among other things, Bayern Munich’s ex-CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had chosen this type of argument to explain the 32-year-old’s poor performance in the top game. “It is known that Mats has problems when he has to go into running duels – this is due to his age,” he said Picture TV.
Stefan Effenberg had in his t-online-Column also wrote that the best days of Hummels are “probably” over. “He is 32 years old and won his biggest titles a few years ago, for example the 2014 world champion. And of course he is not the fastest either. But I think he still has a good time,” said the former Bundesliga player.
BVB: Sammer compares Hummels with Chiellini
In addition, coach Marco Rose, according to Effenberg, has to find a new role for Hummels: “Due to his lack of speed, BVB may no longer be able to use him in the center of a three-man ball in possession – but he can still play on the half-left for a few years.” Hummels still has a contract until summer 2023.
Sammer compared Hummels with Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus Turin, who played an “outstanding tournament” for winners Italy at the European Championships. “Mats has great added value for BVB. He’s doing us very well as a personality, a leading player, with his strength in duels and his build-up game,” said the 54-year-old.
