In an exciting, young and successful Team of Borussia Dortmund he is the new leader of the pack: Axel Witsel. The Belgian, speaks in a DW Interview about the happiness of the moment, but avoids a specific word.
DW: Axel Witsel, football seems to be currently the pure joy, even in minus degrees…
Axel Witsel: Yes, it was really cold today. But I enjoy it to be here, every day, in Training as in Games.
Autumn champion. What is the meaning of this word for you?
For me, the autumn means the championship is nothing. You’re not really master. We still have much hard work ahead of us. And so we see things: We have a hard week ahead of us with two Games on Tuesday and on Friday (Dortmund plays, first in Düsseldorf, then at home against pursuers Borussia Mönchengladbach, Anm. d. Red.). For me, the two final games. And that is all we should think.
Sporting Director Michael Zorc says that your Team needs to work on the chance of recovery. Do you agree with?
I think he’s right. We would have had to decide this game earlier. Sometimes I think that we need to be focused when we get chances to score. We had the opportunity with Jadon Sancho, to decide, for example, the game. But in the end we won 2:1 have won and we are happy with this result.
Quick Adjustment
The season is already long, you play in three competitions. How is your energy level?
It makes us feel good. We have shown a lot of good games, and now it is our goal, so in the last two Games so. I myself have pushed quite a bit, because the level in the Bundesliga is different than in China (where Witsel for one and a half years in Tianjin Quanjian played note. d. Red.). But I’ve adapted quite quickly to the level, and I’m very happy here.
Autumn Meister BVB: The success came unexpectedly – even for the parties Involved
You are a leadership figure in a very young Team. How would you describe your job?
I am due to my age, one of the leitwolf snow groomers in the Team, but I’m not the only one. Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Lukasz Piszczek are also there. I think we have a good Mix of young talent and experience, and that is the reason why we are so successful. We have a lot of new players, such as myself. We could not expect that we will play so fast so good. Usually something needs more time. We will do our Best to maintain this Flow until the end of the season.
“Business as usual”
How do you rate your chances to be at the end of the season, the German champion?
Now is not the time to talk about it. The back round is still long for us. We need to look further on the Gas and we need more of the same from game to game. That’s about it. And in the end we will see what the result is.
Axel Witsel, 29, is a Belgian national player and since his move in the summer, a leading figure in the newly formed team of Borussia Dortmund. With 95 percent of successful passes, he is together with Niklas Süle (FC Bayern München) is currently the best passer in the League. After two League titles with Standard Liege in Belgium and Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia, could Witsel with the BVB, with which he concludes the first half of the season as winter Champions, securing his next championship in Germany.
The Interview was conducted by Joscha Weber.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”Borussia Dortmund – Werder Bremen 2:1 (2:1)
The Eleventh Gate (20. Minute) in the tenth League game, the ratio of Dortmund’s professional Paco Alcácer (photo on the right) is impressive. This is only possible with two players in front of him in the Bundesliga: Horst Hrubesch and Klaus Matischak. Also Reus (photo on the left, 27.) in the first half. Bremen shows morality and comes by Kruse to Anschlusstor (35.), but points with Werder.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”Hannover 96 – Bayern Munich 0:4 (0:2)
For Hannover it is during the game only to damage limitation: Kimmich scored first after just two minutes. Alaba (29.), Gnabry (53.) and Lewandowski (62.) are also successful. “For the joy of playing my team deserves a very large praise. Maybe it was with the best performance in this season,” said Bayern coach Kovac. Hannover is now table last.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”Hoffenheim – Borussia Mönchengladbach 0:0
A bittereres anniversary: mönchengladbach’s former playmaker this season is only a substitute player. In Hoffenheim he was substituted ten minutes before the end of the Game – be 150. Bundesliga game for Borussia. After five minutes, the Brazilian hurt his shoulder and needs to get out again. The TSG would need to decide – is 25:6 shots on goal – games for.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”Fortuna Dusseldorf – SC Freiburg 2:0 (0:0)
Important victory for newly promoted Düsseldorf: The Fortunen get against the strong SC Freiburg their third victory of the Season, and more table not last. Both scored a defensive player Ayhan (55./79.). The 24-Year-old rejoices over his first two goals this season. Freiburg’s Top-scorer Petersen, meanwhile, has to wait more to become the best scorer of the club’s history.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”FC Augsburg – FC Schalke 04 1:1 (1:0)
Two table neighbors: It is a poor game that lives alone from the power, who will take the points. Augsburg caught the better Start and after 13 minutes through Gregor’s table (photo) in the lead. In the second half, Caligiuri (52.) from. Schalke remains a point ahead of Augsburg, but the 13th place is for the runner-up is not satisfactory.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”VfB Stuttgart – Hertha BSC 2:1 (0:1)
Relief in the Swabia country: Stuttgart, turns the game against Hertha Berlin thanks to a brace from striker Gomez (64./76). Previously, the Central city had brought the guests from the capital in the lead. For the VfB, the three important points in the battle for the Class remaining. Hertha missed the jump on a European Cup place.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”1. FC Nürnberg – VfL Wolfsburg 0:2 (0:0)
Slow start in the 15. Round: After it’s goalless at the break, breaks Ginczek (58. Minute), the ice in the ice-cold Nürnberg – his third game with scoring in the series. Speaking of which, The “wolves”, for Brekalo (90.+3) at the end of meets, are unbeaten since four Games. Nuremberg, in the Offensive effort, but harmless, after nine games without a win deep in the relegation battle.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”RB Leipzig – FSV Mainz 05
Thumbs up? Since the bitter Europa League on Thursday evening, more wounds to lick at RB Leipzig. To serve the Mainz now as a whipping boy? It is easy to imagine, that the RB-player shoot-out against the outsiders, the frustration of the soul. Especially Timo Werner (photo), who was allowed to pursue the bitter against Rosenborg BK from the Bank.
-
“Perhaps the best performance of the season”Eintracht Frankfurt – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Welcome to the duel of the group winners! The harmony and the werkself have made in the Europa League, your homework now is to follow in the Bundesliga the next victory. Especially the Leverkusen need a few more points before the winter break. A special game for Bayer goalkeeper Hradecky, who last season won with Eintracht in the DFB-Pokal.