Maximilian Philipp suddenly Borussia Dortmund striker number 1 – BVB

Dortmund.
What Maximilian Philipp must consider, has its full justification. "It's only the first week," said Borussia Dortmund footballer at General Wellbeing in fourth place last season's table. Meaning: nothing has happened yet, everything is calm. But this is not really true for him. He's no longer just one of the many talented BVB football players, but suddenly the No. 1 striker of the Champions League participant. At least that is the situation one day before the first test match this Friday (7 pm) at FK Austria Vienna. And perhaps also at the start of the Bundesliga season on August 26, when the Dortmunds are received in their own RB Leipzig stadium and therefore put directly to a stern test.

At least, that's what the sports director Michael Zorc thinks in case the replacement of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a late defender of the winter, can not be found on a transfer market overheated international. Zorc recently complained in an interview with the newspaper: "We can not do crazy things here, especially since we have players in our team who also have this position in their wallet and promise some odds – like Maximilian Philipp, for example. "

Nine goals in the first season

It is possible for Zorc to say that these sentences improve their own bargaining position by giving the impression of already having staff for the vacant position. But it is not ruled out at exorbitant prices that Maximilian Philipp first gets the confidence. A little over a year ago, he was still under contract with SC Freiburg. With the recommendation of nine goals and three assists in 25 Bundesliga matches, he moved to the summer of 2017 in Dortmund. For BVB he made in 20 games nine goals, he gave two assists. And now? For now, he could head the goalie department of a club that is still the European heavyweight.

Great steps

"It's honorable to hear someone say that I'm an alternative to the storm," said the 24-year-old Thursday after training. That's exactly what it would not be: an alternative. But plan A in a club that has been eclipsed in the last decade by forwards like Lucas Barrios, Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Big steps that Zorc seems to trust his new protégé.

Philipp calmly reacts to the assessment. "I do not hurry to shoot a number of goals," he says. "I'm completely relaxed there."

Up to the twelfth game of last season, Philipp scored six goals for his new club as a left wing, before a serious knee injury cost him several months. Three more shots followed in the final push of the season when he was already an attacker. What does he trust in him, what do his superiors entrust to him? "I'm happy if the sports director sees it like that, I know I can do it," says Philipp, referring to the first BVB season, to "some goals – and not so bad". Self-confidence? Available.

Persistent research

Behind the scenes, Zorc is still looking for a new format attacker. If so, who should come at the end of the transfer period (August 31)? "I'll take it as it comes," said Philipp calmly. "If we bring one more, then there is just a bigger competition, I do not mind that, it is not a problem for me to play in front or behind. Or on the pages. "

He has not yet to commit to it. It's only the first week.