Emotional start-up comeback
Halstenberg’s tears after the dream goal
04/11/2022, 11:45 am
Marcel Halstenberg has had a difficult year and a half. Although he is going to the EM 2021, an emotional roller coaster ride begins before that: his father dies of cancer, he himself is suffering from a serious injury. Now he’s back in the starting XI of RB Leipzig – and how.
Marcel Halstenberg looked into the black sky over Leipzig and trotted to the corner flag in front of the almost empty guest block, as if he wanted to be alone with himself and the world for a moment. His goal against Hoffenheim in his first start-up in almost eleven months was something of a happy ending to an emotional roller coaster ride for the RB Leipzig international that began in autumn 2020 and took Halstenberg to his limits. “I ran towards the corner flag and thought about my parents,” he reported after the 3-0 win.
After the game, the left-back calmed down and made a deeply relaxed impression. Shortly after scoring, he was still fighting back tears. It just wasn’t a game like any other. “I always gave it my all in training. It’s nice to know that the coaching team has your back,” said the 30-year-old.
Dortmund change burst abruptly
His tumultuous year and a half began in the fall of 2020 when his father died of bone cancer. A stroke of fate that was hard to bear for the family man Halstenberg. Thanks to the support of friends and family, he stayed on track in terms of sport and even took part in the European Championships in summer 2021.
At his club, however, things started to get stuck. The contract, which expired in 2022, was to be extended, but Halstenberg saw his achievements in the offer presented to him as insufficient recognition. A farewell seemed inevitable, in Borussia Dortmund the new employer had already been found. But the move fell through for a variety of reasons and Halstenberg was also suffering from a capsule injury that would ultimately cost him almost a year of his career.
At the beginning of March, he wore the RB jersey again for the first time in the cup of all places in his hometown of Hanover. On Sunday against Hoffenheim it was enough for the starting eleven. And when a pressing shot from Konrad Laimer landed in the penalty area in front of Halstenberg’s strong left foot, he simply held on – it was a perfect shot into luck. And after a few seconds, which Halstenberg had to himself, he was completely taken in by the cheering teammates. Even defense chief Willi Orban ran over half the pitch to congratulate Halstenberg. Everyone was aware of the special moment.
There could be other special moments – also in the Leipzig jersey. Because the atmosphere between the Halstenberg party and the club management is said to be right again, they are in talks about extending the expiring contract. The completion report should only be a matter of time.
