Sebastian Kehl: Erling Haaland really wanted to help the team after the game in Lisbon

Sebastian Kehl has revealed that Erling Haaland was really eager to make his return and help the team after Borussia Dortmund’s shock defeat to Sporting CP earlier this week. 

Erling Haaland made a goalscoring return from injury on Saturday as he helped Borussia Dortmund earn a 3-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg. The goal, his 50th in the Bundesliga, saw him break a couple of long-standing records and gave the Black and Yellows a massive boost ahead of next weekend’s clash against Bayern Munich.

When Haaland suffered his hip flexor injury, it was expected that he would be out until the end of the calendar year. His father even said that it would be a miracle if the Norwegian international played again before Christmas. And Sebastian Kehl has now revealed that it was the striker’s hard work during rehab and his desire to help the team that helped him make an early return to full fitness.

"“He displayed a lot of willpower and worked really hard in rehab to be back,” Kehl told Kicker. “He gave himself a very good feeling and confidence with that performance. He makes us better in many areas of the game. To challenge Bayern at the highest level, we need him.”“In the past few days, we all sensed that he really wanted to help the team after the game against Lisbon. You have to weigh that up carefully so as not to take too big a risk. But the sessions before the Wolfsburg game were so good that the player, coaches, doctors and physios made a joint decision that he could play. After the next week in training, he will be even further along physically.”"

Marco Rose also heaped praise on Haaland after Borussia Dortmund’s win over VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday. He added that the striker is a difference maker who cannot be replaced.

"“Erling Haaland made a good impression during the week,” Rose said. “He gives us a lot of energy when he is there. He is a difference maker who cannot be replaced in the long term.”"

With six days to go until Borussia Dortmund’s next game, Haaland has plenty of time to make further progress in training and return to full fitness. It remains to be seen if the striker will be ready to start against Bayern Munich. But he will certainly have a crucial role to play if Marco Rose’s side are to beat their title rivals and move to the top of the Bundesliga standings next weekend.