Opinion: Marcel Sabitzer impresses in Borussia Dortmund debut

Borussia Dortmund new signing Marcel Sabitzer debuted in his first game for the club against Manchester United this past weekend.

Borussia Dortmund were victorious this past weekend in their pre-season clash against Manchester United; a result that will likely give the team confidence that their preparations are headed in the right direction. There was a healthy amount of rotation in the side, which allowed many players to get some minutes on the pitch. For Marcel Sabitzer, the game proved to be his first start for the club, and while there were many moments of play that showed Dortmund as a whole are still a work in progress ahead of next season, Sabitzer’s display proved to be an effective one all things considered.

The opening minutes of the game saw United take control of proceedings and really cause problems for Dortmund’s defense. All throughout the first half, Sabitzer was in the thick of the action, attempting to harrow and harass United’s attacking players, while also trying to support in the attack up front for his side. Sabitzer did his best to live up to the role he claims is his most effective on the pitch – playing as a box to box midfielder.

Sabitzer was also important in Dortmund’s late comeback in the second half. He assisted Donyell Malen for the Dutchman’s second goal on the night after reciting the ball from a United mis-pass high up on the pitch. It was a gift for Dortmund in truth, but Sabitzer had to be there to receive it and make the quick decision to play Malen in on goal, which he did with ease.

Edin Terzić was full of praise for the Austrian international, and really highlighted that Sabitzer had performed his required role with the precision he expected. The important thing for Terzić now, is consistency:

"“He was instrumental in us scoring two goals and winning balls in the first half. That’s what we had in mind when we signed Marcel. The point now is that we see it regularly.”"

Terzić’s comments hint at the fact that we’ll likely be seeing quite a bit of Sabitzer in the starting 11. The lineup as a whole seemed like what one would expect to see on any given Bundesliga match day, barring a few faces introduced later on in the match, as well as those currently injured.

As Sabitzer grows more comfortable in Dortmund’s lineup, one can likely assume that he will be one of the driving forces in midfield for Dortmund this season. His ability to make quick decisions after winning the ball back from the opposition will allow him to propel Dortmund’s counter attacks with great efficiency, making him a dangerous and exciting outlet for the club to utilize. I look forward to seeing more of him during pre-season preparations and hope that we get to see him become the player that made such an impact at RB  Leipzig prior to his moves to Bayern and United.