Dost: Yes. It obviously had a lot to do with the long injury. Ivica Olic and Nicklas Bendtner played most of the time. It’s difficult to break into the team when it’s like that, but you need to have patience.
DFB.de: Your team mate Naldo once said that the team needed a bit of time to understand how you play up front. Has your emergence had anything to do with a better synergy in the team?
Dost: Yes, of course. In every practice match we score one or two goals. That then correlates to us having different strengths up front. We have pace on the wings, players who create a lot of chances and players who score. I fit in well with that.
DFB.de: You are a very critical of yourself. In a recent interview in February you said whilst playing, you would go quiet every ten minutes after scoring a goal. Could it be from celebrating too long after you score a goal?
Dost: Sometimes I am happy to quickly, earlier in my career I thought after I scored a goal that it was enough. My job was very easy. But today it is totally different. Right from the kick-off I try to integrate myself in the game as quickly as possible. Now I am 25-years-old and after I score a goal, I want to score another one.
DFB.de: In the second half of the season you went on a bit of a drought as you went goalless in five games. Is it hard for you when you don’t score over a couple of games?
Dost: I scored 13 goals and was close to winning the top scorer award. Of course, it is hard to get that out of your head. In Germany the defenders are very strong and a striker doesn’t get many chances to score. It is a bit annoying when I don’t score, but it is more important that the team is firing on all cylinders.
DFB.de: In that same interview you said that Wolfsburg is very quiet and you can go unnoticed in a restaurant.
After two and a half difficult years, Bas Dost finally enjoyed a breakthrough at VfL Wolfsburg. His two goals against FC Bayern München on the first matchday of 2015, as well as his four against Bayer Leverkusen, are but a few examples of his stellar 2015 thus far. Now the Dutchman, who scored 16 Bundesliga goals this season, is hoping to crown the season in Berlin. The 25 year old has a chance for DFB Cup glory on Saturday when his side faces Borussia Dortmund in the Olympiastadion. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Bas Dost discusses the final, his incredible season and transfer rumours.
DFB.de: Mr Dost, how excited are you about the cup final?
Dost: I’m so excited! For two years we crashed out in the semifinals, now we are finally there in the final. I have never played in a final before so it’s something very special for me. Many people have told me that the atmosphere in Berlin is always amazing. I have a lot of faith in our team.
DFB.de: No wonder, you recently beat BVB 2-1 in your penultimate game of the season. Does that improve your confidence?
Dost: That doesn’t really mean much. We obviously showed this season that we have a good team. But Dortmund’s quality was also clear to see in our game.
DFB.de: What qualities do BVB have in particular, in your opinion?
Dost: They are very dangerous in attack with players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus. They play with a high tempo going forward, respond well when possession switches between the teams and cope well under pressure. They are also strong in defence and midfield. They have achieved a lot with this team in recent years.
DFB.de: You personally have faced Dortmund four times, winning three times and drawing once. They seem to be a good opponent for you.
Dost: That’s true. I’ve still never lost to Dortmund. I like that they also play football. They’re not a team that sits back and defends, just waiting for us to make a mistake. Therefore I believe the final will be a great match. Both teams want to play football and score goals.
DFB.de: The cup win would be the biggest title of your career. Does it bother you that you still haven’t won anything in your professional career?
Dost: No. In Holland I was top goalscorer once. It was a personal achievement for me. Until now I have never been part of a club that can challenge for a title every year. But now I am playing for a team that can do that.
DFB.de: You were top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie in the 2011/12 season. After that you came to VfL Wolfsburg. How difficult did you find the switch?
Dost: It was difficult. I a very short space of time I had three different managers. On top of that I had difficulties with the intensity of the training. In Germany it is a lot more exhausting. I have never run so much in my life. In Holland we only ever trained with the ball, here there is a lot of training without a ball. But I got used to it. I’ve realised that I’m now a lot fitter than before and as such a much better player.
DFB.de: In the 2013/14 season you were often injured. In the season just gone, you only played 13 minutes during the first twelve games. Could you ever have imagined it possible that you would finish the season with 16 league goals?
Dost: No I had never expected that. But I was always waiting to take my chance. I knew that I had to go well when it came.
DFB.de: Did the manager Dieter Hecking ever explain why you didn’t feature much in the early part of the season?
Dost: Yes. It obviously had a lot to do with the long injury. Ivica Olic and Nicklas Bendtner played most of the time. It’s difficult to break into the team when it’s like that, but you need to have patience.
DFB.de: Your team mate Naldo once said that the team needed a bit of time to understand how you play up front. Has your emergence had anything to do with a better synergy in the team?
Dost: Yes, of course. In every practice match we score one or two goals. That then correlates to us having different strengths up front. We have pace on the wings, players who create a lot of chances and players who score. I fit in well with that.
DFB.de: You are a very critical of yourself. In a recent interview in February you said whilst playing, you would go quiet every ten minutes after scoring a goal. Could it be from celebrating too long after you score a goal?
Dost: Sometimes I am happy to quickly, earlier in my career I thought after I scored a goal that it was enough. My job was very easy. But today it is totally different. Right from the kick-off I try to integrate myself in the game as quickly as possible. Now I am 25-years-old and after I score a goal, I want to score another one.
DFB.de: In the second half of the season you went on a bit of a drought as you went goalless in five games. Is it hard for you when you don’t score over a couple of games?
Dost: I scored 13 goals and was close to winning the top scorer award. Of course, it is hard to get that out of your head. In Germany the defenders are very strong and a striker doesn’t get many chances to score. It is a bit annoying when I don’t score, but it is more important that the team is firing on all cylinders.
DFB.de: In that same interview you said that Wolfsburg is very quiet and you can go unnoticed in a restaurant.
Dost: I said that at a time when I didn’t score as many goals. When I was in my last city, I was talked too more often and was always asked for photos. Still, it is quieter than other big cities.
DFB.de: Recently, it was speculated that you were leaving Wolfsburg? How does the current situation stand?
Dost: My contract runs for two more years in Wolfsburg and I am happy here. I play every game with a positive disposition. Six months ago, that was totally different. Now all that matters is to win the cup, go on vacation and then come back to Wolfsburg.
DFB.de: Next season you will be also playing in the Champions League. Do you think it’s possible for VfL to be as successful as they were in the Europa League?
Dost: That depends on who we face in the group stage. Bayer Leverkusen is a similar team and they played very well in the Champions League. So why can’t we do the same?
DFB.de: Let’s quickly go back to the Dutch national team. At the end of March you played your first two games. How confident are you that you will be with Holland at the 2016 European Championship.
Dost: It was a definitely a high point after the great season I played with Wolfsburg. Of course, I would love to go to the European Championships.
DFB.de: Robin van Persie and Klass-Jan Huntelaar are your current competitors for the spot up front…
Dost: On one hand the competition is tough, but on the other it is great to play with such great players.
DFB.de: In 2012 you were also nominated twice for the squad, But you received the message in the mail. Now you are a striker in the Bundesliga, did the coach call personally call you this time?
Dost: Yes, Guus Hiddink called me. It was a great feeling and we had a fantastic conversation.
DFB.de: You are a very critical of yourself. In a recent interview in February you said whilst playing, you would go quiet every ten minutes after scoring a goal. Could it be from celebrating too long after you score a goal?
Dost: Sometimes I am happy to quickly, earlier in my career I thought after I scored a goal I reached my goal. My job was very easy. But today it is totally different. Right from the kick-off I try to integrate myself in the game as quickly as possible. Now I am 25-years-old and after I score a goal, I want to score another one.
DFB.de: In the second half of the season you went on a bit of a drought as you went goalless in five games. Is it hard for you when you don’t score over a couple of games?
Dost: I scored 13 goals and was close to winning the top scorer award. Of course, it is hard to get that out of your head. In Germany the defenders are very strong and a striker doesn’t get many chances to score. It is a bit annoying when I don’t score, but it is more important that the team is firing on all cylinders.
