Berlin: Borussia Dortmund forward Niklas Fuelkrug is on the brink of a Champions League final appearance at Wembley, two years after plying his trade in Germany’s second division, as they reach the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.
The 31-year-old scored the only goal in last week’s first leg as Dortmund bid for a first final in the competition since losing to rivals Bayern Munich at Wembley in 2013.
Unlike PSG’s brilliance and hometown superstar Kylian Mbappe, Fuelkrug’s image includes not only the team’s current drive under Dortmund-born coach Edin Terzic, but also the club’s wider identity.
Dortmund will struggle against cash-rich PSG, despite their slim advantage, but Fuelkrug has the experience to overcome adversity.
The late striker, who has yet to play Champions League football so far this season, had hopes of reaching his full potential despite a serious injury.
He has played more than half a season four times in his career, most notably from 2019 to 2020 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
He regularly represents Germany at youth level, but will not feature for the national team until 2022, three months shy of his 30th birthday.
He has scored 11 goals in 15 games – testament to his quality in a German side that has failed to impress consistently of late.
Fuellkrug joins Dortmund from Werder Bremen, who won the Bundesliga top scorer trophy last season.
With Euro 24 2024 in sight, Fuelkrug is Germany’s first-choice striker. He was the only member of the Dortmund squad called up by coach Julian Nagelsmann for the recent German friendly.
Former Juventus and Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero said Fuelkrugge was “on another level” after PSG’s first leg.
“He’s not fast, he’s not strong, but he’s effective. He’s underestimated,” Del Piero, now a broadcaster, told CBS.
“He’s a real threat in the box. He’s a real striker.
“We saw the goal, but in the first half he had a chance to shoot, but he calmly passed the ball to Marcel Sabitzer. A good pass.”
Although not many expected Dortmund or Fuelkrugge in the semi-finals of the Champions League a few months ago, the forward said that he always believed in himself and the team.
“It’s good to win 1-0 but it doesn’t mean anything yet. We have to do well this week to be ready for the second leg.”
Champions League champions Dortmund have experience within the competition.
Nicklas Suele was in the Bayern Munich side that defeated PSG in the 2020 exhibition.
Paris will be under pressure on Tuesday.
The newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions’ main target under hosts Qatar is to lift the Champions League, and Mbappe’s performance is expected to only increase.
A win or a draw in Paris would see fifth-placed Dortmund in the Bundesliga reach the final, an unlikely next place for the club and the free-flowing striker.
