BERLIN: Asked to sum up yet another star turn from winger Jamie Gittens on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin said simply “he has arrived.”
Still just 20, Gittens’ recent performances have established the Englishman as Dortmund’s most important attacking outlet.
With his trademark dance in from the left flank, dribbling past defenders, Gittens unleashed a rocket which bounced in off the crossbar to score for the fourth straight game.
In Wednesday’s home clash against a free-scoring Barcelona side who are top of the La Liga table, Gittens will be crucial as Dortmund hope to take a step closer to locking up a top-eight spot.
Gittens walked the same path as former Borussia teammate Jadon Sancho when he moved from the Manchester City academy to Dortmund.
Just four years younger than Sancho, who is now at Chelsea having returned to Dortmund for a six-month loan last season, Gittens’ progress was disrupted by a series of shoulder injuries.
This season, Gittens has played in all Dortmund’s 20 games in all competitions. He has nine goals — including four in the Champions League — and four assists.
Gittens has developed a habit of scoring incredible goals at crucial moments in what has been a challenging season for last year’s Champions League finalists.
German tabloid Bild on Sunday called him a “giant” and said “Dortmund finally have a star face again.”
According to Bild’s analysis, sixth-placed Dortmund would be in the bottom half of the table without Gittens’ contributions.
Germany’s Sport1 network on Monday had a discussion asking if “Dortmund are too dependent?” on the starlet this season.
On Saturday, Gittens was quick to deflect praise of his red-hot form.
“My teammates are always making me go harder in training,” Gittens told the Bundesliga website, adding his improvement was due to “being more confident on the pitch.”
Several current superstars, including Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembele and Sancho, have emerged from the Dortmund finishing school in recent years.
Plenty are tempted to ask if Gittens is on the same path — and whether a move away is inevitable.
German media speculated on Sunday Gittens will be Dortmund’s next big-money sale.
But while Haaland, Bellingham, Dembele and Sancho always had their eyes set on a short stay, Gittens — who gives interviews in German — has repeatedly said he is comfortable in Dortmund.
After a spectacular solo goal in a 1-1 draw with rivals Bayern Munich in November, Sancho texted Gittens.
“He wrote to me. He said ‘keep it up — it’s your time to show everyone what you can do’,” Gittens said of Sancho, calling the Chelsea winger “a top player and a top friend.”
Dortmund coach Sahin, under pressure after a patchy start to the season, refused to take credit for Gittens’ development.
“The credit doesn’t belong to me, but to Jamie and (former Dortmund assistant coach) Sven Bender.”
“He’s made a huge step. His heart is in the right place and I wish him only the best.”
Like last season, when they finished fifth in the Bundesliga but reached the Champions League final, Dortmund have struggled in Germany but impressed in Europe this year.
Dortmund are fourth on the Champions League table, level on points with third-placed Barcelona.
Despite flying high in the new format, either side could fall outside the top eight with a loss, such is the traffic jam of teams below them.
Barcelona are atop the Liga table in Hansi Flick’s first season. They have, however, begun to show defensive vulnerabilities similar to those which brought Flick’s time at Bayern to an end.
If Dortmund are to challenge the five-time Champions League winners, the lightning-quick Gittens will need to play a leading role.
Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom
https://arab.news/be5rs
Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom
- Still just 20, Gittens’ recent performances have established the Englishman as Dortmund’s most important attacking outlet
- With his trademark dance in from the left flank, dribbling past defenders, Gittens unleashed a rocket which bounced in off the crossbar to score for the fourth straight game
Salt and Pepper season Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ route into the ILT20 playoffs
- The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator 1 on 1 January
DUBAI: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders secured a place in the top four of DP World ILT20 Season 4 with a commanding 32-run victory over Gulf Giants in the final league match at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The crucial win confirmed the Knight Riders’ progression to the playoffs, where they will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on January 1. Desert Vipers and MI Emirates will contest Qualifier 1 on December 30, with a place in the final at stake.
A dominant 131-run opening partnership between Michael Pepper and Phil Salt laid the foundation for the Knight Riders’ success. Pepper struck 83 from 51 balls, while Salt remained unbeaten on 72 from 56 deliveries, as the pair propelled their side to a formidable total of 179 for 1.
Pepper led the charge during a brisk powerplay, racing to a half-century from just 31 balls as the Knight Riders reached 56 without loss inside the first six overs. Azmatullah Omarzai endured a costly fifth over, conceding 20 runs including three sixes, two of them launched by Pepper.
The opening pair brought up a 100-run stand in 67 balls — only the second century partnership of the season — before Aayan Khan finally broke through in the 15th over, with Pepper holing out to Mark Adair. Pepper’s innings featured six boundaries and four sixes.
Salt reached his own half-century from 44 balls in the 17th over and finished strongly, adding an unbeaten 48-run stand with Liam Livingstone (18 not out from 13 balls) as the Knight Riders plundered 18 runs from the final over.
Defending 180, Jason Holder struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over and later dismissing Gulf Giants captain James Vince for 19. Ajay Kumar added to the pressure by accounting for Ben Kellaway, while Sunil Narine conceded just five runs across his first two overs.
By the end of the powerplay, the Giants had slumped to 32 for 3, but Moeen Ali mounted a spirited counter-attack. The England all-rounder smashed 79 from 49 balls, reaching his half-century in 31 deliveries and briefly reviving hopes with a 45-run stand alongside Kyle Mayers.
However, Narine turned the tide decisively in the 15th over, removing Mayers and then Sean Dickson for a duck. Andre Russell sealed the contest in the 18th over, striking twice in consecutive deliveries to dismiss Moeen and Aayan Khan, as the Knight Riders closed out the innings efficiently.
The Gulf Giants were eventually restricted to 147 for 9, handing the Knight Riders a comprehensive victory.
Player of the match Pepper said the innings was built on discipline and smart decision-making.
“It was about being patient and waiting for the right match-ups,” Pepper said. “When the spinners came into the attack, Salt allowed me to face most of the deliveries and I was happy to take responsibility. As a group, we just need to keep putting in the hard work.”
Gulf Giants captain James Vince acknowledged his side fell short on the day.
“It was a surface where they scored 20 to 30 runs above par,” Vince said.
“We weren’t able to strike early with the ball, and full credit to the way Pepper and Salt went about their innings. Moeen played a really good knock for us, but six losses in a row is tough to take.”
