In the Champions League final against Real Madrid, Mats Hummels showed all his skills, especially in the first half. He left it open as to whether the defender will play for Borussia Dortmund again next season
Two scenes in the first half of the Champions League final against Real Madrid were enough for Mats Hummels to show off his entire repertoire, both offensively and defensively: In the 21st minute, the 2014 world champion initiated a great chance for his Dortmund side with a strong vertical pass into the path of Karim Adeyemi. Shortly before the break, he interrupted a promising attack by his opponents with a risky – but fair – tackle on Vinicius Junior
Nevertheless, it was not enough for BVB to lift the trophy in the end. The Bundesliga side missed too many chances before the break and were too careless in the decisive moments of the second half. Black & Yellows lacked the initial momentum midway through the second half, when Real came more and more to the fore. “The problem was that we conceded so many set pieces in this phase,” Hummels analyzed on ZDF. Madrid had certainly benefited from good fortune beforehand (“We’ve had that this season too”), but then struck coldly: “It’s quality and skill somewhere. “
Is Hummels going or staying? “No idea “
Hummels didn’t want to blame any of his teammates. “I’m really proud of the team,” he emphasized. His team showed “courage and heart”: “It was a great game from every single one of us.”
After the game, Hummels left it open as to whether this match, the second Champions League final Hummels has lost, was his last after 13 years in a BVB shirt: “I don’t really know.” He had fueled speculation about an imminent departure himself at the last Bundesliga home game against Darmstadt 98 – especially as his contract is coming to an end.
On Saturday, the defender, who played a major part in Westphalia’s advance to the final but was not nominated for the European Championship at home, gave a frank insight into his feelings: “It feels strange not to know. It will be decided in the coming weeks,” he explained. “I have no idea what will happen to me in July. I like the situation, but it’s also a bit strange. “
