Serhou Guirassy gives up on penalties after a crucial miss against Heidenheim
On Sunday, Serhou Guirassy scored a valuable brace for Borussia Dortmund against Heidenheim (3-2), but his performance was overshadowed by a dramatic penalty miss. After converting his first attempt, the Guinean striker stepped up again at the end of the match after winning the penalty himself. This time, he attempted a panenka, but the ball sailed over the goal, completely missing the target. A miss that could have cost his team dearly.
After the match, speaking to DAZN, Guirassy made a firm decision, expressing with a hint of self-deprecation: “I missed one. Penalties are over for me now,” he said, drawing laughter on set but also sparking a debate about penalty management at BVB.
Niko Kovac’s annoyance
Coach Niko Kovac, clearly annoyed, voiced his dissatisfaction in the press conference, calling his striker’s action inappropriate: “He wanted to try something that I didn’t find very appropriate. It wasn’t the right moment,” he commented, emphasizing the importance of managing key moments in a match.
In the locker room, the hierarchy is clear: Emre Can is the main penalty taker at Dortmund, and Guirassy stepping up in this situation was already an exception. It’s also worth noting that Ramy Bensebaini, Guirassy’s teammate, is also effective in this role.
A public mea culpa under pressure
Realizing the weight of his miss, Guirassy quickly apologized on X, the social network: “Alhamdulillah, we won. It wasn’t the right time to attempt that penalty like that and put the team under pressure. Sorry. Alhamdulillah, we won.” This reaction shows the mindset of a player under pressure, especially after a tough period. Before this match, Guirassy had only scored once in his last 12 appearances. This brace against Heidenheim, with a penalty scored, seemed like a relief. However, his panenka, attempted in hopes of regaining confidence, had the opposite effect.
A contrasting season
Last season, Guirassy shone in the Bundesliga with 21 goals and in the Champions League with 13 goals. But this year, his tally is more mixed, with only 8 goals in 19 matches. Despite this, Kovac has never stopped believing in him.
Guirassy’s career penalty stats are respectable: 29 successful and 8 missed. However, three misses this season, including the one against Heidenheim, have clearly left their mark. A player of his caliber, used to excellence, is undoubtedly finding it tough to handle the pressure.
It remains to be seen if this announcement, where he declares he will stop taking penalties, is a thoughtful choice or just an emotional reaction in the moment.
