"There’s a lot to come for him" – Thioune full of praise for rising star Mio Backhaus | OneFootball

Mio Backhaus entered the season with big shoes to fill. Last season, Werder goalkeeper Michael Zetterer was (briefly) one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. In the summer, Zetterer was sold to Eintracht Frankfurt, and, while Karl Jakob Hein was loaned in from Arsenal, Werder gave the starting job to Backhaus.

Suffice to say, that has not been a decision Werder regret. Despite having no previous Bundesliga experience, the 21-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the most talented goalkeepers in Germany. With Werder Bremen battling relegation, he's been vital in recent weeks.

Look at his performance in Werder Bremen's recent victory over Wolfsburg. Backhaus thwarted Wolfsburg again and again, recording four saves and keeping a clean sheet. Werder won 1-0, the club's third win under coach Daniel Thioune.

“When you’re a small team, you need someone who surpasses himself,” said Thioune in an interview with the DFL. “And Mio Backhaus, he dealt with the first corner, second corner, third corner; caught freekicks; turned shots onto the bar.”

That's not to say it's been all smooth sailing. The young goalkeeper let the ball slip past him for the opener in a crucial six-pointer against St. Pauli. Werder eventually lost 2-1, extending their winless streak to 13.

Rather than hurting his development, though, it seems this error has made him stronger.

“Mio is very open, listens a lot," said Thioune. "In recent weeks, especially with the loss at St. Pauli where he was involved in the first goal we conceded, he’s showed he can grow in difficult situations and wants to do that as a young player.”

Since the St. Pauli game, Backhaus has conceded only three goals from four games. Werder Bremen have won three of those to climb up to 14th in the Bundesliga, four points clear of St. Pauli and the relegation zone with only seven games left.

Backhaus has also since started two games for Germany's U21s in late March. He kept clean sheets in both.

After Werder's narrow win, Wolfsburg star Christian Eriksen asked how it's possible to win when the goalkeeper has the game of his life — and he is no stranger to good goalkeeping over his 16-year career.

What's scary for the Dane, and for all others in the Bundesliga, is that it looks like this may be just the start. Eriksen certainly won't be the last player that Backhaus makes an impression on.

Well, there's one Bundesliga team that won't fear Backhaus: Werder Bremen, of course. He's been thrown into the deep end this season, but that hasn't mattered.

“It’s special as a Bremen youth product for him to be playing in Bremen’s goal,” said Thioune. "Given his current state, there’s a lot to come for him. And he’ll no doubt have another game of his life somewhere else.”