“The boy is blessed” – Enzo Millot with gala performance against BVB – Football

Enzo Millot knew exactly who he had to thank after VfB Stuttgart’s 5:1 win against BVB. “Lord’s day” – “the day of the Lord,” the offensive player posted on social media after his gala performance.

The devout Frenchman had already thanked God for his help on the pitch several times, looking up to heaven and pointing his index fingers upwards. The “help from above” certainly seems to have paid off, and Millot’s work record is impressive: the 22-year-old scored one goal himself – the 3-0 against an overwhelmed Dortmund team – and provided the assists for two more goals. He was involved in 17 tackles – no other player had more direct duels – and his dribbling was 100 percent (source: Opta). It doesn’t get much better than that.

VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß complements Enzo Millot

VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß also saw it that way. “The boy is endowed with exceptional qualities, unbelievable really,” the coach told the French Olympic participants. “He often flies a little under the radar, but against BVB he deserved to be on the big stage. That was outstanding, a different level. He has set a standard that he is welcome to repeat.”

Left out under Bruno Labbadia

Hoeneß and Millot – it’s simply a match. Under former coach Bruno Labbadia, however, the highly talented technician was often on the bench; he was apparently not believed to be capable of playing a key role in the relegation battle. In January 2023, Labbadia even publicly criticized the then 20-year-old. “He doesn’t give us what we need,” said the experienced coach at the time. Old coaching school on the one hand, youthful carefreeness, sometimes high spirits or lack of discipline on the other – it didn’t fit at all.

How the story continued is well known. Labbadia had to leave soon after, Sebastian Hoeneß moved to VfB in a seemingly hopeless situation and saved the Swabians in the 2023/2024 season. One of the protagonists: Enzo Millot. Hoeneß relied on the qualities of the 1.74 meter tall professional from the start – and he thanked him. In the new coach’s first competitive game, Millot scored the winning goal against Nuremberg in the DFB Cup – and became increasingly important after that. He has taken a number of development steps since then – Hoeneß’s contribution is likely to be large. The chemistry between the two was right from the start.

Strong statistics for Enzo Millot

Millot already played a major role in the sensational runner-up finish last season. In 35 competitive matches, he scored six goals and provided assists for a further eleven. After four Bundesliga matchdays this season, he has two goals and two assists.

Memories of Aleksandr Hleb

However, Millot’s added value goes beyond the statistics alone. His speed and deep runs create important space for the team, his basic aggressiveness makes him an important tackler and he plays a major role in Hoeneß’s pressing. In addition, the ball sticks to his feet so much when dribbling that VfB Stuttgart is already reminded of Aleksandr Hleb, once nicknamed the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.

Millot also played like a “sorcerer’s apprentice” for a long time, but he gradually emancipated himself from this role. The 22-year-old is taking on responsibility and is becoming more and more confident. He was recently promoted to captain of the French U21 team, and he won silver with his Olympic team at the 2024 Games and was one of the top performers.

Deniz Undav with praise and criticism

After the Olympics, he returned to Stuttgart with such a broad chest that one could have feared it might be the best. One reason why Millot is currently as good as ever.

“I saw that he is an outstanding player on my first day in Stuttgart,” said VfB striker Deniz Undav about his attacking colleagues. “Last season he sometimes lacked that final kick, but now he is our outstanding player. We know what he can do and he showed that against BVB. You can always pass to him, he will have every ball, it is nice for every teammate to have Enzo next to him.” Undav’s only criticism – said with a broad grin: “He could have scored more goals, but he is slowly getting better at that. That will come.”

And what did Millot say after his gala performance? Unlike on the pitch, the creative player was very modest. “That was a strong team performance, we were very good in front of goal,” he said in an interview with SWR Sport. “If we keep going like this, it can be a very good season.”

He could have a big part in that himself – if he continues exactly as he is. In any case, there is nothing to speak against it – and his big goal is ultimately to “maintain the level and play internationally again with VfB” – also permanently on the “big stage”.