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Bundesliga - official website, Germany
June 8 2014
Hummels reveals Mkhitaryan 'secret'
Mainz - While the headlines emerging from 1. FSV Mainz 05's Coface
Arena following Germany's 6-1 friendly win over Armenia on Friday
understandably centred on the injury to Marco Reus, the impact of one
of the members of the losing side has slipped under the radar: that of
Reus' Borussia Dortmund club-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The 25-year-old was the hub of Armenia's play, orchestrating the few
attacks Germany allowed them to have from his advanced midfield role,
and confidently converting a 69th-minute penalty to level the score
albeit briefly at 1-1.
'He can get even better'
"Armenia are a lot better than they're given credit for," said
Borussia defender Mats Hummels afterwards. "They're now ranked 38th in
the world and only narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup
after drawing against Italy, so we knew that they're a very good
side."
Hummels was also in no doubt as to who the driving force behind
Armenia's rise is: "Henrikh is an amazing player and he was their most
dangerous outlet. We're very lucky to have him in Dortmund because
he's very good in his position."
Speed demon
Mkhitaryan's return of nine goals, ten assists and a 73 per cent pass
completion rate in his debut Bundesliga campaign is testament to that,
yet it also says much about the 25-year-old's talent that even more is
expected of him. "He had a good season but next year I think he'll be
even better," said Hummels. "It's not easy to play against him."
When pressed as to what makes Mkhitaryan, who was recently named
Armenia's Player of the Year for a fourth time, such an awkward
opponent, and why BVB singled him out to replace the departed Mario
Götze last summer, Hummels was initially reluctant to reveal trade
secrets. "I don't know if I want to say too much as it'll warn our
opponents next year," he said, only for enthusiasm about his
nimble-footed team-mate to get the better of him.
Bundesliga, Europe: beware
"There aren't many players in the world who are that fast with the
ball at their feet," Hummels continued. "That's the secret: don't let
him get up to full speed with the ball because then it's very, very
difficult to defend against him."
Just ask FC Schalke 04. On Matchday 10 in the recently-ended season,
Mkhitaryan led a breakneck Dortmund counterattack, sprinting the full
length of the field, cutting through a wave of Royal Blue shirts
before teeing up Jakub Blaszczykowski to tap home and help Dortmund to
a 3-1 victory over their arch rivals.
If indeed there is still more to come from the Yerevan native,
Bundesliga clubs could be forgiven for approaching 2014/15 with a
sense of trepidation.
http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2013/0000295725.php
June 8 2014
Hummels reveals Mkhitaryan 'secret'
Mainz - While the headlines emerging from 1. FSV Mainz 05's Coface
Arena following Germany's 6-1 friendly win over Armenia on Friday
understandably centred on the injury to Marco Reus, the impact of one
of the members of the losing side has slipped under the radar: that of
Reus' Borussia Dortmund club-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The 25-year-old was the hub of Armenia's play, orchestrating the few
attacks Germany allowed them to have from his advanced midfield role,
and confidently converting a 69th-minute penalty to level the score
albeit briefly at 1-1.
'He can get even better'
"Armenia are a lot better than they're given credit for," said
Borussia defender Mats Hummels afterwards. "They're now ranked 38th in
the world and only narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup
after drawing against Italy, so we knew that they're a very good
side."
Hummels was also in no doubt as to who the driving force behind
Armenia's rise is: "Henrikh is an amazing player and he was their most
dangerous outlet. We're very lucky to have him in Dortmund because
he's very good in his position."
Speed demon
Mkhitaryan's return of nine goals, ten assists and a 73 per cent pass
completion rate in his debut Bundesliga campaign is testament to that,
yet it also says much about the 25-year-old's talent that even more is
expected of him. "He had a good season but next year I think he'll be
even better," said Hummels. "It's not easy to play against him."
When pressed as to what makes Mkhitaryan, who was recently named
Armenia's Player of the Year for a fourth time, such an awkward
opponent, and why BVB singled him out to replace the departed Mario
Götze last summer, Hummels was initially reluctant to reveal trade
secrets. "I don't know if I want to say too much as it'll warn our
opponents next year," he said, only for enthusiasm about his
nimble-footed team-mate to get the better of him.
Bundesliga, Europe: beware
"There aren't many players in the world who are that fast with the
ball at their feet," Hummels continued. "That's the secret: don't let
him get up to full speed with the ball because then it's very, very
difficult to defend against him."
Just ask FC Schalke 04. On Matchday 10 in the recently-ended season,
Mkhitaryan led a breakneck Dortmund counterattack, sprinting the full
length of the field, cutting through a wave of Royal Blue shirts
before teeing up Jakub Blaszczykowski to tap home and help Dortmund to
a 3-1 victory over their arch rivals.
If indeed there is still more to come from the Yerevan native,
Bundesliga clubs could be forgiven for approaching 2014/15 with a
sense of trepidation.
http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2013/0000295725.php