BVB – Erling Haaland complains about Borussia Dortmund: “The club puts me under pressure”
Erling Haaland BVB Borussia Dortmund
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Erling Haaland feels pressured to make a decision about his future at BVB. Club boss Watzke reacts immediately to these statements.
Borussia Dortmund experienced an almost perfect evening in the 5-1 win against Freiburg – until Erling Haaland a few minutes after the final whistle at Jan Age Fjörtoft on the microphone of the Norwegian TV station Viaplay Photoball kicked and started against the club.
Haaland talked a little about the game and when it came to his still uncertain future at BVB, the striker surprised with surprisingly spicy statements. “The club is putting me under pressure, I should make a decision. I have to accept that. But I just want to play football,” said Haaland.
BVB star Haaland: “I must come to Potte …”
“I haven’t said anything out of respect for Dortmund for the past six months, I’ve let everyone else talk around the world. And that probably means that I have to come to Potte now. They want an answer. That means things have to happen.”
In fact, it was the 21-year-old’s first public appearance in several months, Haaland had recently withdrawn completely and no longer attended any interviews.
BVB: Haaland wants to “set things in motion”
The 21-year-old still has a contract with BVB until June 2024. However, he can leave the DFB Cup winner in the summer because of an exit clause for 75 million euros. Those responsible for BVB recently stated that they want to meet with Haaland and those around him soon to clarify the future of the storm jewel.
“I don’t want to think about anything but football because it gets difficult when I have other things on my mind, but they’ve been pushing for so long now that I’m going to start things,” said Haaland. In an “ideal world” he would not decide now. “We’re in a tough period with a lot of games, I really just want to play football but I can’t.”
BVB boss Watzke “cannot understand” Haaland’s statements
Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke reacted to the criticism with incomprehension. “We’re not putting Erling under pressure at all. There are currently no talks or appointments, so I can’t understand it,” Watzke told the newspapers Funk media group.
“We can’t wait until May, that’ll make sense to him too. As a professional, he has to understand that at some point you’ll talk about the future,” said Watzke, but also showed understanding for Haaland: “Erling is a spontaneous person and another young lad, he’s allowed to do that, that’s no problem.” He himself has “a great relationship” with Haaland. But he also had to “have a little understanding of our situation”.
Haaland currently doesn’t want to “think about anything but football because it gets difficult when I have other things on my mind, but they’ve been pushing for so long that I’m going to start things,” said Haaland. In an “ideal world” he would not decide now: “We are in a tough phase with a lot of games, I really only want to play football, but I can’t.”
At least Watzke hasn’t completely written off Haaland yet: “What does hope mean? If that’s the case, we’re very happy. And if it turns out differently, we’ll solve it too.”