It could hardly have gone better for Ridle Baku He was called up to the national team at short notice last week, and now the player from Wolfsburg has two more caps to his name – and his first goal in the senior team.
For many it was just one goal of many last Thursday as Germany beat Liechtenstein 9-0, but for Ridle Baku his debut goal in senior national team kit meant much more. “Of course it doesn’t get any better than this, “ he says. “To play in Wolfsburg, even from the start, and then to score a goal – it all came as a surprise to me.”
His shot into the corner was an eye-catcher – and earned him numerous congratulations. Including from former coach Mark van Bommel, who was sacked at Wolfsburg at the end of October. “He wrote to me “, Baku reported, “he was happy for me.”
Baku set a scent mark in the fight for World Cup places in Hansi Flick’s line-up. How does he, who was last sent home early by the national coach, see his chances? “I’m in the draw, but the competition is fierce with Jonas Hofmann, Thilo Kehrer and Lukas Klostermann. I can only influence it here at the club.”
At VfL, who are back on track after the change of coach from van Bommel to Florian Kohfeldt. What does the new coach do differently from the old one? Now, explains Baku, the “old virtues that made us strong last season” will be visible again. High intensity, aggressive play against the ball, everyone is there for each other. “It’s a shame that Mark is no longer here,” says the 23-year-old, but also knows: “It’s about the club and the cause. “
