Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi seeks to keep momentum after good performance vs Heidenheim

Borussia Dortmund’s season has gotten off to an optimistic start with the club registering two wins and a draw in the opening three matches of the Bundesliga campaign. The club’s most recent 4-2 win against Heidenheim, while a bit of a topsy-turvy affair, was a good advertisement of the club’s attacking game in particular. 

Amongst the players that really stood out was Karim Adeyemi, who registered two goals and one assist to help elevate his team to victory. In an interview after the game however, Adeyemi was adamant about keeping level headed about his performance, highlighting a need for more consistency in his game before praise begins to be heaped on his shoulders: 

"To be honest, this is the first good game for Dortmund this season, where I can say that I have achieved something and that is not enough for me. I know what it's like to have another bad game after a good one. That's why I try not to have such a small descent again, but to keep moving upwards, to always play good games. After 10 games, if I've played almost every game like this, then you can praise me, but after one it's difficult for me."

- Karim Adeyemi

Adeyemi’s stance on his performance shows a level of mentality and focus that bodes well for the rest of his season. The German international has acknowledged that, by his own standards, his performances have needed work and his words underline a commitment to seeing his form trend upwards over an extended period of time before accepting praise. This drive to continue to better himself is an important indicator that could earmark him for some very strong performances to come. 

Adeyemi also spoke about his time with the Germany u21s and how that helped him gain confidence in his own game again:

"Yes, I gained self-confidence in the U21s, where I was able to show what I can do and scored goals there, got a bit of a feeling for goals again. And luckily I was able to show that yesterday. Of course I was pleased, but the three points we got were all the more important. In the end, it's always about self-confidence for me and that the head is switched off. And it was yesterday. And the U21s definitely played a big part in that."

- Karim Adeyemi

For many players, a step down to play for the u21s, especially after playing for the senior national team, can be seen as a slight. Adeyemi has taken those opportunities in stride and used them to help regain confidence in his own ability, something that surely seemed lacking at times last season. His uptick in form, as he highlights, is to a degree related to his ability to accept this step down as a challenge and opportunity for self-betterment

As the season continues for Dortmund, an in-form Adeyemi bodes well for the club's competitive prospects. Dortmund will look to take on Club Brugge in the Champions League this week; a competition that Adeyemi has very much excelled in before both for Dortmund and for RB Salzburg. It will be important for both Adeyemi and Dortmund to get off to a strong start in this competition to maintain the positive momentum of the season so far.