Serhou Guirassy’s Ninety fifth-minute penalty away to Membership Brugge had no influence on the consequence. Borussia Dortmund had already secured victory. But it surely was the fruits of a journey for the striker. His first objective for the membership. His first objective within the Champions League.
Guirassy, now 28, was not tipped for greatness at a younger age like so lots of his new team-mates. His first style of the Bundesliga introduced relegation with FC Koln and he hardly lit up the second tier with them both. He left to return to France aged 23.
In one other world, which may have been that for him on the elite degree. He went down once more with Amiens earlier than transferring to Rennes and on to Stuttgart, the place their surprising revival beneath Sebastian Hoeness set Guirassy’s profession on one other trajectory completely.
On Sunday, he returns to Stuttgart with Dortmund.
Guirassy wants no introduction to the supporters in Swabia. It was whereas at Stuttgart final season that the Guinea worldwide emerged as one of the potent strikers in Europe. This time final yr he had already scored eight instances in simply 4 video games.
These targets sparked Stuttgart, the catalyst that took them to second within the Bundesliga – the different shock of the season in Germany. Had harm not disrupted him, Guirassy could properly have overwhelmed Harry Kane to the European Golden Shoe. He was that good.
However the knee harm picked up on worldwide obligation in the summertime means solely now could be he getting again on top of things. Dortmund want him. The sale of Niclas Fullkrug was applauded given the charge acquired from West Ham, however the alternative wants to fireside quick.
When Dortmund blanked at Werder Bremen, the return from harm of recent signing Guirassy took on better significance. He confirmed what had been lacking on debut of their 4-2 win over Heidenheim. Dortmund already look higher with him enjoying.
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Watch highlights of the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Heidenheim
That time was emphasised when it wanted two targets from substitute Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to beat Eintracht Frankfurt, even earlier than that goalless attract Bremen. Nuri Sahin, the brand new boss at BVB, is making an attempt to shift the model and desires his point-man in assault.
The thrilling Maximilian Beier had been unable to be that within the first two video games however Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malan improved with Guirassy on the pitch, the link-up play with Julian Brandt additionally encouraging. No one at Stuttgart will likely be too shocked.
Guirassy in type is a distinction maker, as Stuttgart legend Cacau explains. The Brazilian fired Stuttgart to the title in 2007, their high scorer with 18 targets in all competitions, however even he didn’t come near Guirassy’s complete of 30 targets in 30 video games final season.
Chatting with Cacau about Guirassy’s influence on the membership, he tells Sky Sports activities: “At Stuttgart, for me, he was the complete striker. He scored headers, he scored in the box, he scored outside the box, he scored through dribbling and he also gave some assists.”
That stood out for Cacau. “It is not normal for a striker like him to make assists because everyone wants you to score goals,” he explains. “If he was in a good position, he tried to score. If not, he gave the pass. That impressed me. At Stuttgart, he was complete.”
Guirassy is undoubtedly a striker however it doesn’t require the imaginative and prescient of a playmaker to carry others into the sport. That was evident sufficient for 71 minutes in opposition to Heidenheim when, even whereas nonetheless rusty, his motion opened house for Dortmund’s large forwards.
Guirassy fires off an acrobatic shot on his Borussia Dortmund debut
This late bloomer – a discount signing at solely £15m – can carry extra than simply targets, he will be the facilitator for Sahin’s facet. And he is aware of that is his huge likelihood. Many at Dortmund are already impressed along with his urge for food to come back again rapidly, to be a frontrunner.
“Guirassy was technically amazing, he scored the goals but he also gave the team calmness on the pitch,” provides Cacau. “As a player and a person, he is amazing. He was also very important for the team in the locker room because he had this mentality.”
Sunday twenty second September 4:30pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Given how fulsome he’s in his reward, one would possibly count on his predecessor to have excessive expectations of him this season. Maybe surprisingly, he isn’t so sure that Guirassy will have the ability to repeat his heroics in yellow. It’s a new setting, new expectations.
“We will see at Dortmund. I do not know if he will be so successful like at Stuttgart because at Stuttgart the expectation was not so high. Now, at Dortmund, everyone expects for him to make the same level as at Stuttgart. I am not sure.”
His is an interesting story however one for which the following chapter just isn’t but written. Cacau is an admirer and even he’s unsure what comes subsequent. It has been an encouraging begin, two huge wins and one landmark objective from the spot, however Dortmund will need much more.
That’s the problem for Guirassy, a participant who had all of the momentum a yr in the past however now wants to search out it having been denied a correct pre-season and with extra stress on him to ship. It is going to be a take a look at of approach, but in addition the character that Cacau highlights.
That take a look at continues, fittingly, at Stuttgart on Sunday.
Watch Borussia Dortmund vs VfB Stuttgart on Sky Sports activities Soccer this Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm
