Finally off the mark? BVB hope Silva can kick on | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund are drawing new hope from Fabio Silva. His goal off the bench against Freiburg could prove to be a turning point for the striker.

In Borussia Dortmund’s emphatic 4-0 win over SC Freiburg, Fabio Silva put the finishing touch on the result with a late goal – and at the same time sparked fresh discussion. The forward once again only came on as a substitute, but his goal in the closing stages quickly pushed his limited playing time into the background.

After the final whistle, the Portuguese forward presented himself as firmly team-oriented. “Whether I’m in the starting lineup or not: whenever the coach wants me on the pitch, I try to help the team,” Silva said. A statement that underlines his selfless approach – and is likely to go down well with the coaching staff.

Despite his goal, the situation remains complicated for the striker. Since moving to Dortmund, the 23-year-old has only lived up to the high expectations in spells. Coach Niko Kovac also made clear to WAZ what had long been holding him back: “You can see that with his physical development comes the ability to play in a Bundesliga match.” Silva in particular had some catching up to do physically in his first few months, especially as he arrived at the club carrying an injury.

Future at BVB: Silva wants more playing time

The fact that the forward often only comes off the bench is part of a clear principle at BVB: minutes are only given to players who are fit enough. Even so, Kovac knows the value of his impact sub, especially in the later stages against tired defensive lines.

Photo: IMAGO

Silva himself does not see himself solely as a traditional goal scorer. “I think everyone can see that I’m more than just a goal scorer,” he stressed, pointing to his team-oriented style of play. At the same time, scoring remains central for him: “Of course, as a striker it’s important to score a goal. I think it’s the best feeling when you score.”

Looking ahead, the attacking player, who has so far recorded three goals and seven assists in 36 competitive appearances, has set clear targets for himself. More playing time, more goals – and, in the long term, a return to the Portuguese national team. Silva also wants to help Borussia Dortmund move closer to the top next season and seriously compete for titles.

His goal against Freiburg may have been a first step in that direction. In Dortmund, at any rate, hope is growing that Fabio Silva has finally got over the hump.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.