Chelsea loanee, Ian Maatsen sealed a crucial victory for Borussia Dortmund against Union Berlin this weekend.
A cool finish in the final minute of added time completed a 2-0 victory against a side fighting for survival in the Bundesliga.
It was Maatsen’s first goal for Borussia Dortmund since moving on loan in January and his goal since playing for Burnley in the English Championship.
After the game, he was all smiles and spoke about how he hopes that Dortmund can become a home after four previous loan spells in the last four season.
Waiting for this moment
Maatsen has struggled to score in recent seasons.
Today was just his ninth goal since moving up from Chelsea’s under 23s. It was one to savour as he slid the ball past an onrushing Frederik Rönnow. Maatsen cherished the moment:
“I’ve been waiting for this moment. I took a touch inside, I believed in it. I got a bit lucky to not give away the foul. I scored my first goal in a big stadium wit great fans. It was good… I didn’t touch Juranovic, otherwise the Referee would have given the foul.”
We owed the fans
After a surprising 3-2 defeat to Hoffenheim last week, Maatsen and his Dortmund teammates were keen to redeem themselves.
Since joining Dortmund, the 21-year-old has started every game but a disappointing performance last work meant that Maatsen felt like the team had to show a reaction:
“We were down last weekend, we let ourselves down. We reacted, we showed what we can do.
It was good today, the pressure, it’s why you play football. We owed the fans after the soppy performance at home last weekend. We reacted in a good way at a tough place against Union. It’s a tough time, they fight and it’s what we get paid for.
We scored two goals, kept a cleansheet, we are really happy and positive going forward.
We needed this win, we needed this winning feeling. Hopefully we can grow from this moment and keep going.”
An honest relationship with the Head Coach
Edin Terzic has taken an immediate liking to Maatsen and his confidence in paying immediate dividends.
With an inspired Rönnow looking unbeatable, it took two moments of brilliance to secure the three points for Dortmund.
Maatsen said that his relationship with Terzic is helping him to improve as a player:
“I really like the coach, we have good conversations, have a good relationship and in future, I know where I am. He is an honest guy, he’s not afraid to tell me the truth, to speak straight, to tell us how it is. I like that, I need that.
It is so positive, the atmosphere, here. We knew we needed to improve. We didn’t start the best but we fought together, we showed that we can stick together, to fight for every ball. It won’t work out with every game but we have to keep going.
He wants us to be better everyday, and so far it’s been good.”
Maatsen is now at his fifth club in five years and the Chelsea loanee is evidently looking for a long-term stay.
Borussia Dortmund could be that home and if he keeps scoring, it will be a happy one.
GGFN | Oscar O’Mara
