Bundesliga
Dortmund “very satisfied” as Moukoko makes first start
Borussia Dortmund interim head coach Edin Terzic hailed the efforts of Youssoufa Moukoko after the teenager made his first start for the club in Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Werder Bremen.
Moukoko created history last month by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the Bundesliga, and in Bremen he was handed his first start at the age of just 16 years and 25 days.
The attacker came close to scoring twice before being taken off shortly after Marco Reus netted the winning goal for Dortmund with 12 minutes left.
"Youssoufa did a great job for the team, which was important," Terzic told Sky Germany after the game. "It wasn't about him scoring the winning goal today. It was about him working for the team. He did that at 16 years of age so I have to pay him a huge compliment."
Later speaking at a post-match press conference following his first match since replacing Lucien Favre, Terzic said the coaching staff were "very satisfied" by the Germany youth international's performance.
Watch: Learn more about Youssoufa Moukoko
While acknowledging that the teenager will improve as he builds on what was only his fifth appearance in the German top flight, the former West Ham assistant reiterated why he had played Moukoko from the off.
"The fact is Youssoufa is not in our squad because he's 16," Terzic said. "He's with us because he's good."
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc clearly shares that view, having stressed ahead of the game that the club weren't looking to sign another striker despite the fact that Erling Haaland is out injured until 2021.
Moukoko, who earlier this month became the youngest player in UEFA Champions League history, led the line as Dortmund tweaked their formation in the first game on Terzic's watch.
Watch: Marco Reus was impressed by Moukoko in Bremen
Club skipper Reus scored his 14th career goal against Bremen, and he felt that last season's runners-up had shown a "good and important" response to Saturday's 5-1 loss at home to VfB Stuttgart.
They climbed to fourth as a result of their latest success, and Terzic - who has been asked to lead the team until the end of the season - hopes they will be even better away to Union Berlin on Friday.
"I thought it was great - and I am really proud - that we gave everything from start to finish, and that we ran every metre we had to," the 38-year-old.
"Of course, in terms of how we played, it wasn't exactly how we imagine we ultimately want to play. We did very well at times. But today it was far more important to produce a reaction as a team."