DFB juniors
Moukoko convinces in the U21: “It’s also about trust”
Put together a hat-trick in Bulgaria: Youssoufa Moukoko. photo
© Borislav Troshev/dpa
Youssoufa Moukoko is currently at best a joker at BVB, but a regular player in the U21. His goal rate is impressive – from Moukoko’s point of view, the coach’s trust is an important factor.
“That’s very good for me. In the end you can see that I’m in the right place here. In the end it’s also about trust. The coach trusts me and I’ll give that back,” said the 18-year-old after the 3-2 win (1:1) yesterday against Bulgaria in Sofia. Moukoko led the German Football Association (DFB) team to victory with three goals.
Strong goal rate
The top talent thus increased his goal quota in the U21 to eleven goals in nine games. Moukoko had already scored twice in the 3-0 win at the start of the European Championship qualification in Kosovo. “The boys are always looking for me in the penalty area, I get the balls I need. The striker has to score the goals, I did that today,” said Moukoko at ProSieben Maxx. “When I’m in the penalty area – I know where the goal is.”
At BVB under coach Edin Terzic, Moukoko has only made six substitute appearances across all competitions this season, and he has not yet played a goal role in the Bundesliga. “I think that I work no differently than Edin at the club,” said Di Salvo. “I talk to Mouki a lot, we practice qualifications, we just have a good bond.”
The U21 coach referred to the competitive situation in Dortmund, where there are top-class alternatives in the squad in the attack center in national players Niclas Füllkrug and Sébastien Haller. “That’s why he’s playing less at the moment,” said Di Salvo. “I told him that he should make the most of his time here and that it is a privilege to play for the U21s. The goal rate shows that he feels extremely comfortable here and that he helps us with the goals.”