Guirassy designated as the latest rescue figure for BVB
It's about time: Borussia Dortmund's new main striker is all set and ready to make an entrance. Serhou Guirassy is all fit, and coach Nuri Sahin is already praising him. As for whether he'll face Bundesliga leaders Heidenheim immediately, though, that remains uncertain. Sahin has other preoccupations.
There is no second-guessing from Sahin regarding Guirassy's debut. The 28-year-old is "all-in," and there are "no speed bumps," reported the BVB coach before the newcomer's kickoff against Heidenheim (8:30 PM/DAZN and in the ntv.de live ticker). However, it's unclear whether the Yellow Wall will have a chance to hear Guirassy's name ring out during the duel with the Bundesliga leaders 1. FC Heidenheim.
Even though Guirassy is impressing Sahin in training, a starting spot is not guaranteed. "Eleven starters or the bench—we'll see," stated Sahin. It's possible Guirassy begins on the bench, while Karim Adeyemi—who has recently excelled with Germany's U21 team—might get the nod instead.
Adeyemi has scored a total of five goals in the recent U21 internationals. "That should be my standard," he said. Maximilian Beier also earned national team playing minutes, but he's predicted to make an appearance from the bench this time, particularly with Guirassy joining the competition.
Guirassy has settled in rapidly in the Ruhr area, despite a knee injury, just a few weeks after his €18 million transfer from VfB Stuttgart. He behaves "like a top-level player should, both on and off the pitch," said Sahin. To make his BVB debut, Guirassy will wear the number nine jersey instead of the 19. The number was vacated because Sébastien Haller was loaned to Spain. Niclas Füllkrug and Youssoufa Moukoko are no longer with the team.
BVB needs a passionate striker
High expectations surround Guirassy's abilities. Last season, the striker scored 28 goals in 28 league games. By comparison, Dortmund's top scorer was Donyell Malen with 13 goals. Moreover, Dortmund has yet to deliver in the first two games of the new season. In the 2:0 opening win against Eintracht Frankfurt, Sahin's team was sluggish for a long while, and then the 0:0 draw in Bremen was uneventful, especially in attack. A fit and driven Guirassy could provide a boost.
With injured Giovanni Reyna set to miss several weeks, and personnel issues in defense forcing Nico Schlotterbeck's yellow-red suspension-induced switch to a three-man chain, Ramy Bensebaini might step up to replace Schlotterbeck and potentially make his season debut in the starting lineup. "He has already demonstrated what he's capable of. Now we hope that he can find his consistency with Borussia Dortmund," said his coach.
Exactly a year ago, both teams faced off in the third round at BVB. Dortmund relinquished a 2:0 lead and aided Heidenheim in securing their first-ever Bundesliga point. Now, the "small" FCH is heading to the "big" Dortmund, thanks to their first-ever league lead and remaining unbeaten. In attack, Bayern loanee and youngster Paul Wanner is causing a commotion alongside Sirlord Conteh, and in defense, Benedikt Gimber and Patrick Mainka are holding their own.
Coach Frank Schmidt sparked a hint of attacking spirit ahead of the epic face-off: "We aspire to attempt the impossible again—to take something away not just from this team but from this stadium. That will be difficult." In their sole encounter against Heidenheim last year in March, Guirassy scored. If he achieves this once more during his first home game for BVB on Friday evening, the 80,000 Dortmund fans will cheer his name particularly loudly.
Despite Guirassy's impressive form in training, his starting position against Heidenheim is still uncertain. The coach mentioned that he could start on the bench, with Adeyemi potentially getting the nod instead. (from the given text)
Guirassy, with his stellar performance last season, is expected to bring a much-needed passion and goal-scoring ability to Dortmund's struggling attack. His debut could provide the much-needed boost for the team, looking to turn their disappointing start around. (using the context from the text and expected roles of the players)
