He came, he saw, he scored:
Marcel Schmelzer.
Never before in Bundesliga history has the fifth goal
of a rout been celebrated like it was on Sunday.
This week’s Matchday Magazine has detailed analysis
and a look ahead to the Hertha game.
I think every Borussia fan, every
football fan in Germany
– I’ll go even further and say every
football fan around the world! –
was delighted to see Schmelle’s
goal last weekend.
So it’s even better that he’s my
guest today, and there he is.
Schmelle, that goal makes me want to ask in true
Nobby Dickel fashion: describe what it was like.
Firstly, hello Nobby and thank you
for your congratulations.
I just saw that Axel had the ball in quite a lot of space,
and he played it exactly where I wanted it.
I made that run, and Uwe Hünemeier
tried to stop me,
even though we’ve known each other for
a long time and used to be teammates.
But in the end he wasn’t
able to stop me.
Well, it is difficult to stop you.
Yes, it was a pretty
powerful shot!
I heard that some of the coaching staff tried
to find beer in the stadium afterwards.
Be honest: how big were the celebrations
for the win and for your goal
on the admittedly short journey
back from Paderborn?
OK, I’ll be honest: we did
have a drink or two.
Some of them wanted to do that
because it had been such a long time:
a few of the boys were nowhere near old
enough to drink when I last scored a goal.
I think I read that Jadon was 13, and Gio said he
was 10 when I scored my last Bundesliga goal.
They really wanted to celebrate, so we made an
exception and did that on the journey back.
I can imagine, and it must be fun!
We’ve put together a few reactions
to your goal – take a look.
When the ball went in, I didn’t know if he
had scored or if it was an own goal.
I hoped it was an
own goal from Uwe.
I was very surprised that
he scored at long last.
You can’t defend against someone
as determined as that.
Even if our back three tried to stop him, if Schmelle
wants to score that goal, he’ll score that goal.
I think the whole team was
so happy for Schmelle.
I was really happy for him,
and everyone on the bench made so much noise because
it was such a big deal, so it was a great moment.
Like everyone else, I was
so pleased for him.
The team thinks so highly of him – he’s been here
for so many years, since summer 2008 I think.
He gives everything for the team and puts the team first, so
it’s even better when someone like that gets his rewards.
He never scores in training either – he hasn’t
scored in training for about 7 years!
12 minutes, 1 goal and 1 assist: that basically matches
his total over the previous 12 years in the Bundesliga!
Something like that – so more
of the same, please.
I hope he doesn’t have to wait that long
before he scores his next goal.
Sometimes it’s obvious what you have to do:
Schmelle has to play centre forward.
Wasn’t that great? I assume
you liked it too.
Yes – there were some very nice
reactions, and then there was Mats.
I think I’ve missed my chance, because
Erling will hopefully be back fit soon,
but if he’s unavailable again
then I’m here!
“Wearing Number 9…!” –
I’m looking forward to that.
It’s fair to say that this season and the season
before haven’t exactly been easy.
You keep getting niggling injuries and you
haven’t made that many appearances,
but after the Bundesliga restart you
have at least had some game time.
How much does it help to be back
out on the pitch with the boys?
It’s a great feeling, as I’m sure you will appreciate,
Nobby, especially after such a long time.
One or two of the injuries happened just as I was
starting to get a few minutes under my belt,
and that makes it even better that
right now I’m managing to stay fit.
And it’s nice to come on as a sub,
because it shows my hard work
in training is paying off.
I always give 100% and do everything
I can, so that I get these opportunities.
It’s harder to get game time in my position
than it has been for a long time –
you have to take your hat off to
Rapha for his performances.
He has so many scorer
points in that position,
and he makes things happen for us
up front while making it look easy.
That isn’t easy in that position,
so I think he’s doing a great job.
I think people know that I really
like Rapha as a person,
but what’s he doing on the pitch
is really, really good too.
So I can accept things for how they are, and
keep working hard for the opportunities I get,
and try to take advantage of them
when they come along.
Wow, it’s really good to
hear you say that.
When you don’t score for a long
time, like you Schmelle,
people often like to tease you by
reminding you of the stats.
I’m sure you will have
had that on Sunday,
but we’ve put together a few stats that even
some of the experts might not know.
For those of you who count the days and minutes,
you need to reset your clocks to 0:
Marcel Schmelzer has finally
scored in the Bundesliga again.
OK, we know it was 2444 days
or 9362 minutes, but so what?
Do you know just how unique Schmelle’s
performance was against Paderborn?
A goal and an assist after coming off the bench is
more than Michael Zorc or Dedé ever managed,
and the same goes for Marco Reus,
Mats Hummels and Lukasz Pi…
no, wait, Piszczu has done it too,
in the cup against Paderborn.
Fancy that!
And one more thing: Mr Ronaldo needs 91.5 minutes
for each scorer point this season.
Jadon needs 74 minutes,
and this guy still needs 66 minutes.
Marcel Schmelzer needs a slightly ridiculous
11.5 minutes for each scorer point.
Those are the stats of an
exceptional player.
The nomination for World Footballer of the Year
is, like scoring goals, only a matter of time.
Well, BVB TV have done a great
job putting that together.
There was a little bit of a twinkle in their
eye, but I think you liked it, right?
Yes, absolutely, and what I really liked was
that I said to Piszczu after the game
that he had also done that against
Paderborn, and he said…
Really? You knew that?
Somehow it came up after the game.
I said, “Piszczu, wasn’t there a cup game against Paderborn
when you came off the bench and scored?”
I remember being so happy
for him, like a little boy.
I also had a vague memory that he’d managed
an assist as well, but he was just like “Nope”.
But it’s amazing to see all the people who didn’t
manage to do that: Dedé, Mats, Zorci…
The important thing is that
Mats hasn’t done it.
Of course, I can imagine you talking
about that in the evenings.
The joy on your teammates’ faces when you scored
showed how highly regarded you are in the team.
How do you define your role in
the team at the moment?
I don’t think it’s changed that much.
As I say, I try to do my
best in training,
and that also shows the younger players that, even if you’re
not playing, what you do in training still matters,
and that you can’t afford to let your head drop,
because that won’t get you anywhere.
And if the boys see there’s a problem,
or even if they don’t –
sometimes it’s easier to see things
when you’re on the bench –
then I can talk to the boys a bit
about tactics at half-time.
Otherwise, I don’t think my role
has changed a great deal.
We all know that you really love the Duel, and it’s
time for that, but it’s now called You or Me?
We’ll have 3 questions, and we have to
decide if they’re about you or me.
We’ll start with your youth: Marcel Schmelzer
began his career at SV Fortuna Magdeburg.
Norbert Dickel began his career
at SSV Berghausen.
Which of these clubs currently plays
in a higher division?
3, 2, 1…
They both think it’s
SV Fortuna Magdeburg.
They’re currently mid-table in
the Saxony-Anhalt league.
Yes, since I left they’ve…
SSV Berghausen can only dream
of such lofty heights,
as they’re currently in Group 1 of the Lower Rhine
District League. So 1 point to both of you.
Let’s make things harder.
Unlike Schmelle, Nobby never got to play at
the highest level of European club football,
though he did play
in the UEFA Cup.
Listen carefully: compare Nobby’s UEFA Cup debut
with Schmelle’s Champions League debut.
Which of you was younger when
you made that debut?
3, 2, 1…
Again, they both think
it’s Schmelle.
Schmelle played in the UEFA Cup
when he was 20,
but his Champions League debut against Arsenal didn’t
come until he was 23 years, 7 months and 22 days old.
Was that not young enough?
Nobby’s UEFA Cup debut came
when he was playing for Köln,
and that day against Sporting Gijón he was
23 years, 09 months and 22 days old.
So Schmelle was younger
by a matter of days.
I scored that day.
Me too.
In your first game?
-Oh, you meant on my debut? Sorry.
I think I scored in Gijón.
It’s 2-2, last question.
Tomorrow we come up against Bruno Labbadia,
who was one of Nobby’s opponents on the pitch.
Schmelle has only played against him as a coach,
but who has the better record against Bruno?
3, 2, 1…
Now they disagree – Nobby thinks
it’s him, Schmelle thinks it’s him.
Because both the previous
answers were Schmelle.
That would be ridiculous – I know you get on well with
him, but this would just be sucking up to him.
Schmelle has 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats against
Labbadia, which is a pretty good record.
But Nobby’s is even more clear-cut:
2 games, 2 defeats.
What?!
Nobby scored in both games,
but those goals were in vain.
Again, all you ever thought about
was your goals, Nobby!
So Schmelle wins 3-2.
I’ve always said it doesn’t matter
who scores, as long as it’s me!
I lost? Well, if I have to lose to someone,
then I’m glad it’s Schmelle.
Let’s look at the scores as
they currently stand.
It’s 48-48, Schmelle.
I don’t think it’s ever been
this close, has it?
Normally by the last matchday they’re doing
triple or nothing because I’m so far ahead,
but this time it really
is very close.
I didn’t count on you being
invited on the show.
You’re screwing things up for me, but as I say, if I have
to lose against someone then it’s OK if it’s you.
We’re almost at the
end of the show.
We just mentioned Bruno Labbadia,
who’s unbeaten as Hertha coach
with 3 wins, 1 draw, 11 goals for
and 2 goals against.
Do you know how you’re going to send them packing
tomorrow with their first defeat since the restart?
We know that Hertha will be
a tough nut to crack.
They’ve done really well
since the restart,
and like all Bruno Labbadia’s teams they’ll be fit and will
make us give everything we’ve got over the 90 minutes.
But I think if we can build on our
performances in the games we’ve won,
then I’m very confident that we
can win this home game.
It’ll be difficult game, but a
very important one too.
I can imagine – it might be
a bit of a dirty game,
but maybe that’s what you have to do to come
away from Dortmund with any points.
Schmelle, thank you for taking the time to be
with us, and I’m really happy that you beat me.
That’s all from this week’s Matchday Magazine
before the game against Hertha Berlin.
Please keep your fingers
crossed at home,
and get ready for Schmelle to come on – then things
will really get exciting in the penalty area!
That’s what we’re hoping for – thank you, all the
best, and bye from Nobby and Schmelle. Bye!
