DFB.de regularly features a Germany international who is likely to have a special weekend for one reason or another. Today it's the turn of Matthias Ginter ahead of Borussia Dortmund's away match against SC Freiburg (Saturday, 15:30 CET), with both teams currently battling relegation. It will be the first time that the World Champion will have returned to his former club since signing for Borussia.
At just 21, Matthias Ginter is one of the youngest members of Borussia Dortmund’s squad. He’s playing alongside experienced players such as Roman Weidenfeller and Sebastian Kehl. His teammates also include superstars like Mats Hummels, Marco Reus and Nuri Sahin. Ginter may be a World Champion, but he doesn’t consider himself a star. Particularly not next to outgoing characters like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kevin Kampl. Matthias Ginter is down-to-earth. He prefers the quiet moments and is not one to bathe in the limelight.
An expert on escaping relegation
However, there is one aspect that sets Ginter apart from his BVB teammates and it's a characteristic that has become increasingly important. In fact, Ginter is one of the most experienced players in Jürgen Klopp’s squad. Perhaps not when looking at the statistics; Ginter has played only 79 Bundesliga games. However, he has the most experience when it comes to battling relegation.
Ginter moved from Freiburg to Dortmund before the season. At his former club, Ginter learned the qualities needed to avoid the drop. “That was just day-to-day business in Freiburg. Before the season we knew that we’d have to fight for every single point if we wanted to stay clear of the bottom of the table,” Ginter explained in an interview with Sport1..
There were many reasons for Ginter to sign a contract with Borussia Dortmund. He got the chance to play for the club that he followed as a child. Dortmund, on the other hand, were delighted to add one of Germany’s biggest talents to their squad. Ginter has been awarded two gold Fritz Walter medals for being the best youth player in his age group. On top of that, he developed into a complete player in Freiburg and was part of Germany's World Cup winning squad in Brazil.
Commitment, sacrifice and dedication
The fact that he is a proven expert in the relegation battle is another valuable asset in hard times like these. The first half of the season was a disaster for Dortmund. Borussia collected a meagre points tally and disappointed for the most part. A goalless draw away to Leverkusen and a 1-0 home defeat against Augsburg on Wednesday mean that Dortmund now find themselves at the very bottom of the table.
Saturday's encounter will be the a true six-pointer in the relegation battle. Dortmund travel to Freiburg, a trip that allows Ginter to return to his roots. This fixture will stir up a lot of memories, but he will try to forget the past and not let his emotions take control. The only club that counts now is Borussia. Ginter and Dortmund want to take baby steps away from the relegation zone.
From his time in Freiburg, Ginter still remembers the key qualities needed during the relegation battle: Character, commitment, sacrifice and dedication. These are the virtues that helped Freiburg to achieve survival on numerous occasions. Now Dortmund have to rely on the very same characteristics. Ginter is sure that Dortmund will be able to tackle this challenge. “I think we’ve got enough character in our team to escape relegation,” the 21-year-old told Sport1.
“The move came at the right time”
Ginter needs to consider several aspects when drawing a conclusion from his first months in Dortmund. When he left Freiburg, many people thought the move came too early for him and Ginter would have been better to stay with the club for another year. The statistics seem to confirm that notion. Ginter has only played nine Bundesliga matches, seven of them over the full 90 minutes. There is no doubt that he would’ve played more of a leading role in Freiburg.
However, Ginter takes a different point of view. He isn't one to hurl himself into new adventures. His love for Borussia Dortmund doesn’t mean that didn’t think long and hard about making this step. “I really mulled over the timing of the move. There's no doubt I would have got over 30 league games at Freiburg,” he said shortly after signing his contract.
The important question to him was, how much would he have benefited from those matches. Game time is certainly important, but it wasn’t the only aspect to consider. “I’ve learned a lot of new things and the matches I have played for Dortmund so far have been at a really high level. So I can say that the move came just at the right time for me,” said Ginter.
“I’ve definitely learnt a lot”
The bad results with Dortmund don’t influence Ginter’s opinion. 2014 has been a great year for him, but many unexpected highlights were followed by some negative experiences. Ginter escaped relegation with Freiburg, received his first international call-up, won the World Cup and then signed for Dortmund. “It was an amazing year and it just got better and better,” he said reminiscing. He hasn’t forgotten the last few months though. “Unfortunately, the first half of the Bundesliga season didn’t go very well,” he added.
Ginter knows both the ups and downs in the life of a footballer and is richer for the experience. “I’ve definitely learned a lot,” he said, before adding: “This year has taught me that everything can happen in football.” That offers a glimmer of hope before this weekend. Sometimes fortunes change quickly and offer a way out of a downwards spiral.
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DFB.de regularly features a Germany international who is likely to have a special weekend for one reason or another. Today it's the turn of Matthias Ginter ahead of Borussia Dortmund's away match against SC Freiburg (Saturday, 15:30 CET), with both teams currently battling relegation. It will be the first time that the World Champion will have returned to his former club since signing for Borussia.
At just 21, Matthias Ginter is one of the youngest members of Borussia Dortmund’s squad. He’s playing alongside experienced players such as Roman Weidenfeller and Sebastian Kehl. His teammates also include superstars like Mats Hummels, Marco Reus and Nuri Sahin. Ginter may be a World Champion, but he doesn’t consider himself a star. Particularly not next to outgoing characters like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kevin Kampl. Matthias Ginter is down-to-earth. He prefers the quiet moments and is not one to bathe in the limelight.
An expert on escaping relegation
However, there is one aspect that sets Ginter apart from his BVB teammates and it's a characteristic that has become increasingly important. In fact, Ginter is one of the most experienced players in Jürgen Klopp’s squad. Perhaps not when looking at the statistics; Ginter has played only 79 Bundesliga games. However, he has the most experience when it comes to battling relegation.
Ginter moved from Freiburg to Dortmund before the season. At his former club, Ginter learned the qualities needed to avoid the drop. “That was just day-to-day business in Freiburg. Before the season we knew that we’d have to fight for every single point if we wanted to stay clear of the bottom of the table,” Ginter explained in an interview with Sport1..
There were many reasons for Ginter to sign a contract with Borussia Dortmund. He got the chance to play for the club that he followed as a child. Dortmund, on the other hand, were delighted to add one of Germany’s biggest talents to their squad. Ginter has been awarded two gold Fritz Walter medals for being the best youth player in his age group. On top of that, he developed into a complete player in Freiburg and was part of Germany's World Cup winning squad in Brazil.
Commitment, sacrifice and dedication
The fact that he is a proven expert in the relegation battle is another valuable asset in hard times like these. The first half of the season was a disaster for Dortmund. Borussia collected a meagre points tally and disappointed for the most part. A goalless draw away to Leverkusen and a 1-0 home defeat against Augsburg on Wednesday mean that Dortmund now find themselves at the very bottom of the table.
Saturday's encounter will be the a true six-pointer in the relegation battle. Dortmund travel to Freiburg, a trip that allows Ginter to return to his roots. This fixture will stir up a lot of memories, but he will try to forget the past and not let his emotions take control. The only club that counts now is Borussia. Ginter and Dortmund want to take baby steps away from the relegation zone.
From his time in Freiburg, Ginter still remembers the key qualities needed during the relegation battle: Character, commitment, sacrifice and dedication. These are the virtues that helped Freiburg to achieve survival on numerous occasions. Now Dortmund have to rely on the very same characteristics. Ginter is sure that Dortmund will be able to tackle this challenge. “I think we’ve got enough character in our team to escape relegation,” the 21-year-old told Sport1.
“The move came at the right time”
Ginter needs to consider several aspects when drawing a conclusion from his first months in Dortmund. When he left Freiburg, many people thought the move came too early for him and Ginter would have been better to stay with the club for another year. The statistics seem to confirm that notion. Ginter has only played nine Bundesliga matches, seven of them over the full 90 minutes. There is no doubt that he would’ve played more of a leading role in Freiburg.
However, Ginter takes a different point of view. He isn't one to hurl himself into new adventures. His love for Borussia Dortmund doesn’t mean that didn’t think long and hard about making this step. “I really mulled over the timing of the move. There's no doubt I would have got over 30 league games at Freiburg,” he said shortly after signing his contract.
The important question to him was, how much would he have benefited from those matches. Game time is certainly important, but it wasn’t the only aspect to consider. “I’ve learned a lot of new things and the matches I have played for Dortmund so far have been at a really high level. So I can say that the move came just at the right time for me,” said Ginter.
“I’ve definitely learnt a lot”
The bad results with Dortmund don’t influence Ginter’s opinion. 2014 has been a great year for him, but many unexpected highlights were followed by some negative experiences. Ginter escaped relegation with Freiburg, received his first international call-up, won the World Cup and then signed for Dortmund. “It was an amazing year and it just got better and better,” he said reminiscing. He hasn’t forgotten the last few months though. “Unfortunately, the first half of the Bundesliga season didn’t go very well,” he added.
Ginter knows both the ups and downs in the life of a footballer and is richer for the experience. “I’ve definitely learned a lot,” he said, before adding: “This year has taught me that everything can happen in football.” That offers a glimmer of hope before this weekend. Sometimes fortunes change quickly and offer a way out of a downwards spiral.
