Haller on inagural BVB goal: "It felt like the whole stadium was on fire."
On the same day that Borussia Dortmund - in a strange, yet still thoughtful, action - repainted the center circle of their pitch to symbolize a testicular tumor, cancer-survivor Sebastien Haller finally opened his goal-scoring account for his new club.
Haller and BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl both spoke on the significance of milestone in their milestones in their post-match interviews.
Haller and BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl both spoke on the significance of milestone in their milestones in their post-match interviews.
| Sebastien Haller. | Photo: Borussia Dortmund |
Schönen guten Nachmittag, Borussen! 👋 Alle(s) bereit für #BVBSCF? 👀 pic.twitter.com/M33J8ZbTL2
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) February 4, 2023
Haller's fourth match back, and just his second start for his new club, also saw him score his first goal in BVB colors. It was actually Haller's calm headed finish of a Raphäel Guerreiro cross that put the game to bed. All of the Ivorian striker's teammates surrounded him after the 3-1 in the 51st minute.
"It means a lot to me," Haller told the Sky mics afterwards, "I've been waiting for this day since this day since the first day [with Dortmund]. I'm just happy and I hope that I've been able to make a few people happy."
"When I scored the goal it felt like the whole stadium was on fire," he continued, "[the arena] was like one big unit. It gives us a huge boost."
"We are all overjoyed, a great burden has been lifted from him," BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl added, "I think he'll get even better He will need a game or two to get back into his old rhythm, but goals help a striker tremendously and that's why it will inspire him."
Haller last scored a Bundesliga goal whilst playing for Eintracht Frankfurt's famous "Büffelherde" attack in the spring of 2019. Dortmund's fourth consecutive league win pulls them all the way up to second-place in the table. Die Schwarzgelben began 2023 in sixth place in the table.
