“He doesn’t back down”

Zetterer and Malatini celebrated together after the game (Photo: nordphoto).

In fact, the youngster’s speed was one of the main reasons why he was selected to start the game against Köln ahead of Christian Groß. “Julian did well when he came on against Heidenheim, and his pace was vital in putting a stop to Köln’s counter attacks,” praised SVW’s head coach. “Above all, he had the upper hand in the majority of his battles with Linton Maina.” In the Billy Goats’ clash one week prior, the winger was one of only seven Bundesliga players this season to reach a top speed 36km/h. Malatini covered a distance of 11.3km against Köln and competed in 23 1-v-1s over the 90 minutes, putting his heart and soul into every pass and tackle that he made.

Despite the shortage of centre-backs in the Green-Whites’ ranks, the 22-year-old has proven that Werder made the right decision by signing him in the winter transfer period. Not only has he gained the trust of his teammates, but he’s also shown Ole Werner that he’s up for the task. “After making a bit of a shaky start, Julian has displayed a great improvement in his work on the ball – that’s all part of the process,” remarked the head coach. “He’s shown that he’s capable of holding his own in the Bundesliga. It’s now his responsibility to ensure it stays that way – that’s something we’re working on.”