Jonathan Burkardt is the talk of the town at the moment. On Monday, the captain spoke about the clear ambition of the U-21 national team, his run of seven scorer points in five competitive games, striker training at the club and with Hermann Gerland, as well as a call from Hansi Flick that he initially attributed differently.
“I had two missed calls from an unknown number last week, and because I had water damage, I thought it was the plumbing service. I called back, no one answered. Then another call came back, I answered, but I had no idea that Hansi Flick was calling me, and that’s how the conversation started,” Burkardt recounted the curious initiation.
The phone call itself was then of course more enjoyable than a meeting about repairing the water damage – although the result was no call-up for the senior national team. “He said I was on the radar. That’s a great form of appreciation for me. I was very pleased that he called me personally,” Burkardt reported. Together with the national coach, however, he came to the unanimous conclusion that it is currently better and more important for him to fulfil his role as captain of the U21 team, which, unlike the senior team, has not yet qualified for the next major tournament.
Will the waistcoat remain white against Poland?
So far, however, the DFB Juniors’ record in European Championship qualifying is unblemished: four games, four victories. Burkardt wants it to stay that way against Poland, who are third in Group B with 7 points after four games. “We have to win again to defend our first place. We want to make it clear that we want to finish the Quali in first place and go out of this international phase with six points again.” After all, Israel is breathing down the German team’s neck with nine points. The DFB team only turned around the direct encounter in October during Antonio Di Salvo’s head coaching debut in the closing minutes. Burkardt scored the 3:2 winner in injury time
In the following 5:1 win in Hungary, the captain contributed an assist and then continued this run as a scorer at the club in impressive fashion. In his most recent five competitive matches with Mainz 05, Burkardt scored five goals and set up two others. “I have a bit more finishing luck and find good positions, that’s why I score goals now. I played quite well before that, too,” the 21-year-old soberly assesses his run. The currently well-matched running routes with strike partner Karim Onisiwo add to that: “That makes it easier for both of us up front. “
One contact in the penalty area – that’s when it works best
One factor in this: separate training forms for Mainz’s four strikers Burkardt, Onisiwo, Adam Szalai and Marcus Ingvartsen. “We specifically practise finishes in the penalty area in order to develop further there,” Burkardt reports on applying the findings that the DFB striker project developed by Stefan Kuntz and Di Salvo has also identified: “Most goals are scored in the penalty area and usually with one contact.” The training of these qualities was also practised by the new U-21 co-coach Hermann Gerland with the attackers in October. Burkardt: “I’m really looking forward to that again now, it’s the best form of practice for the strikers. “
As a result of his high level of performance, he has noticed that his teammates are now looking after him more, trusting him more and giving him more balls: “You have to work for that, it’s a process that every player in every team goes through. “ Meanwhile, he doesn’t yet see himself as a seasoned Bundesliga player: “You can say that after 100 Bundesliga games. But I’ve fully arrived at Mainz and count myself among the regulars.” That’s the best way to describe his status.
52 Bundesliga games and eight goals have been recorded so far for the 2021 European U-21 champion. Of course, the first senior international match remains a dream. Before that, it is quite possible that Flick’s sanitary service will be in touch again.
