“It was very good. I’m very happy to be on the pitch,” said Mateu Morey following the friendly fixture against Westfalia Rhynern on Wednesday evening. It was the first time in almost a year that the defender has worn the Borussia Dortmund jersey.

Mateu Morey has played in Germany and in Spain, in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. And yet he will remember the friendly against Westfalia Rhynern (7-0) on the outskirts of Dortmund longer than he will many competitive matches. Edin Terzic made eight changes at the break with the score at 3-0 and Morey came on in the second half at right-back to make his first appearance following a long lay-off. “I had a very good feeling today. It’s getting better every day. I feel very good, I’m fit. I’ve worked very hard. I wanted to look forward and keep going,” explained a happy Morey afterwards.

His time on the sidelines started in May 2021 when the 23-year-old sustained a serious injury to his right knee without any opposition involvement in the DFB-Pokal semi-final against Holstein Kiel. He fought his way back to the team via a long rehab process and made his comeback against Antalyaspor in a friendly at the end of July 2022. He then made his first competitive appearance after his long injury lay-off for the U23s against RW Essen in August 2022. But the defender had to have surgery on the lateral meniscus of his left knee shortly afterwards and was again ruled out for a long time.

Morey was carefully built up once again. He started preparations for the 2023/24 season earlier than the other players with the U23 squad. Then came the first game in Hamm-Rhynern. “He has had a difficult time with us. He hasn’t been on the pitch for almost a year. We’re extremely happy. Today he was able to play for 45 minutes. That means a great deal to him and us,” said Edin Terzic after the match. He congratulated Morey on his appearance directly after the final whistle. 

“It was a long and difficult time for me. But now it’s time to enjoy it. I want to step on the gas for the team,” said Morey. And his goals beyond that? “After this long period, I have learned to go step by step, day by day. For me, it’s important to give everything tomorrow. And then the day after tomorrow. And then after that.”
Christina Reinke