Erik Durm was injured for seven months. He wasn’t able to take part in any matches in the first half of the season due to the problem with his knee, however, since the winter break the World Champion has found himself back in the fast lane, staying true to the motto: pass on the outside. Left-wing, left-back, right-back, right-wing – the whole pitch is Erik Durm’s playground. Dortmund have kept six clean sheets and conceded only four goals in the nine games that he has played in the league.
BVB are still in the running for both the Europa League and the DFB-Cup. In the league they are only five points behind leaders Bayern München and they secured Champions League football for next season last week. Tonight, when Dortmund face Liverpool in the Europa League, (21:05 CEST) Durm will have an emotional reunion with Jürgen Klopp, who put a lot of faith in him during his time as Dortmund coach. BVB are keen to point out ahead of the tie that they are facing Liverpool and not just their former coach. Durm spoke to DFB.de in an interview with Nils Hotze about the upcoming match and much more.
DFB.de: Mr Durm, you’re playing Liverpool today then Schalke on Saturday. These are big games in the scheme of your season. What would have to happen for you to be happy at the end of the season?
Erik Durm: Personally, I would be happy if I am still healthy when summer comes and can still be available for the European Championship. Obviously it would be amazing to be a part of the squad for that.
DFB.de: And what about Dortmund’s season?
Durm: It is highly possible that we could win the DFB-Cup It is something we really want but we have a massive hurdle on the route to the final in Berlin in the form of Hertha BSC. We knocked out one of the Europa League favourites when we beat Tottenham so we have a good chance now. It is important to remember that we are playing Liverpool in the next round and not Jürgen Klopp. Both of us are clubs that turn up to big matches. It would be great to win both of the cups.
DFB.de: And the league?
Durm: In theory, we have to win every game that we have left in the league in order to have a chance of winning the title. It is no longer in our hands as Bayern will have to slip up twice to leave us with an opportunity. We won’t be neglecting the league under any circumstances though and will continue to keep putting effort in.
DFB.de: Is there not a flicker of hope as you are only five points off league leaders Bayern?
Durm: I can’t say now that we should be German Champions. If we were top of the league and five points ahead that might be possible. It’s hard because Bayern have been able to compensate for a variety of injuries as they have a very deep and strong squad. Nevertheless we are still having the best season we have had in a while. We are always one of the best two clubs in the league. We are focusing on each game as it comes. It would be a real shame if Bayern slipped up and we were not able to take advantage because we made a mistake earlier on. We are taking it one step at a time.
DFB.de: Going one step at a time sounds like a good motto. You were injured for a long time. Why have things gone so well for you in the second half of the season?
Durm: I am finally completely injury free, the coach has given me the opportunity to play in a number of different positions and I came back at a point when the team was already doing very well. It is always easier to come back into a successful side after a long injury lay-off rather that a team in crisis, because you quickly get sucked into the crisis.
DFB.de: You mentioned that BVB head coach Thomas Tuchel has let you play in different positions. Is there any position that you can’t play well?
Durm: I don’t know if there is any that I really can’t play. I guess I haven’t really played in the centre of the pitch, for example, centre-back, centre-midfielder or striker. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to. It’s just that I don’t have much experience in those positions. It doesn’t matter to me whether I play right-back, right-wing, left-back or left-wing. All four positions are fine by me.
DFB.de: You are once again in the fast lane. It was a long and hard road leading up to your comeback. What helped to keep you motivated during this tough time?
Durm: My family was really important and gave me a lot of strength and stood behind me all the way. My friends in Dortmund as well as my friends back home helped a lot too by supporting me. The team and the coach played a big role too of course as I was completing rehabilitation sessions almost every day in the training complex. It was great to see the boys in a great mood and doing well. When you see that happening you want to be a part of it again as soon as possible.
DFB.de: So during the time you were injured, were you a part of the team and its success?
Durm: I tried to be. I turned up to every meeting ready to take part and understand the new coach’s footballing philosophy. It went well. I had to go to rehab sessions now and again and thus missed the odd meeting but overall I took part. I was always there when the lads were training and I ate with them. I was in contact with the team throughout. It was really important for me.
DFB.de: When did you start thinking that the worst was over, you could be confident in your body and things could only get better?
Durm: I was on the bench for the first match after the winter break against Mönchengladbach and if I am honest it was a bit of a shock for me, especially with being a left-winger. Obviously I hadn’t been in the squad before then, but if I hadn’t have been fully fit I wouldn’t have been in there. Afterwards I needed a few more weeks to really feel like I was back to 100 percent. Even though I returned in January, it wasn’t until March that I was fully fit.
DFB.de: What are the small things that you need to do at this level?
Durm: Positional play, being in the right place, that is something that you only really get from match practice. I was lacking that a bit when I first came back but I feel I’ve got that back now. Knowing that my body was able to withstand everything was also important for me. My conditioning and performances can only get better.
DFB.de: So much better that you could still be a part of the squad for the European Championship in France?
Durm: I was injured for seven months so I can’t really say that I belong in the squad. It is solely the decision on the national team coaches. I am just happy that I am back in the team, getting minutes under my belt and showing what I can do. My health is the most important thing. We will have to see what else happens. It is crucial for me that I get to the summer without any new injuries. Hopefully we will be able to win two trophies and I’ll take anything else as it comes.
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Erik Durm was injured for seven months. He wasn’t able to take part in any matches in the first half of the season due to the problem with his knee, however, since the winter break the World Champion has found himself back in the fast lane, staying true to the motto: pass on the outside. Left-wing, left-back, right-back, right-wing – the whole pitch is Erik Durm’s playground. Dortmund have kept six clean sheets and conceded only four goals in the nine games that he has played in the league.
BVB are still in the running for both the Europa League and the DFB-Cup. In the league they are only five points behind leaders Bayern München and they secured Champions League football for next season last week. Tonight, when Dortmund face Liverpool in the Europa League, (21:05 CEST) Durm will have an emotional reunion with Jürgen Klopp, who put a lot of faith in him during his time as Dortmund coach. BVB are keen to point out ahead of the tie that they are facing Liverpool and not just their former coach. Durm spoke to DFB.de in an interview with Nils Hotze about the upcoming match and much more.
DFB.de: Mr Durm, you’re playing Liverpool today then Schalke on Saturday. These are big games in the scheme of your season. What would have to happen for you to be happy at the end of the season?
Erik Durm: Personally, I would be happy if I am still healthy when summer comes and can still be available for the European Championship. Obviously it would be amazing to be a part of the squad for that.
DFB.de: And what about Dortmund’s season?
Durm: It is highly possible that we could win the DFB-Cup It is something we really want but we have a massive hurdle on the route to the final in Berlin in the form of Hertha BSC. We knocked out one of the Europa League favourites when we beat Tottenham so we have a good chance now. It is important to remember that we are playing Liverpool in the next round and not Jürgen Klopp. Both of us are clubs that turn up to big matches. It would be great to win both of the cups.
DFB.de: And the league?
Durm: In theory, we have to win every game that we have left in the league in order to have a chance of winning the title. It is no longer in our hands as Bayern will have to slip up twice to leave us with an opportunity. We won’t be neglecting the league under any circumstances though and will continue to keep putting effort in.
DFB.de: Is there not a flicker of hope as you are only five points off league leaders Bayern?
Durm: I can’t say now that we should be German Champions. If we were top of the league and five points ahead that might be possible. It’s hard because Bayern have been able to compensate for a variety of injuries as they have a very deep and strong squad. Nevertheless we are still having the best season we have had in a while. We are always one of the best two clubs in the league. We are focusing on each game as it comes. It would be a real shame if Bayern slipped up and we were not able to take advantage because we made a mistake earlier on. We are taking it one step at a time.
DFB.de: Going one step at a time sounds like a good motto. You were injured for a long time. Why have things gone so well for you in the second half of the season?
Durm: I am finally completely injury free, the coach has given me the opportunity to play in a number of different positions and I came back at a point when the team was already doing very well. It is always easier to come back into a successful side after a long injury lay-off rather that a team in crisis, because you quickly get sucked into the crisis.
DFB.de: You mentioned that BVB head coach Thomas Tuchel has let you play in different positions. Is there any position that you can’t play well?
Durm: I don’t know if there is any that I really can’t play. I guess I haven’t really played in the centre of the pitch, for example, centre-back, centre-midfielder or striker. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to. It’s just that I don’t have much experience in those positions. It doesn’t matter to me whether I play right-back, right-wing, left-back or left-wing. All four positions are fine by me.
DFB.de: You are once again in the fast lane. It was a long and hard road leading up to your comeback. What helped to keep you motivated during this tough time?
Durm: My family was really important and gave me a lot of strength and stood behind me all the way. My friends in Dortmund as well as my friends back home helped a lot too by supporting me. The team and the coach played a big role too of course as I was completing rehabilitation sessions almost every day in the training complex. It was great to see the boys in a great mood and doing well. When you see that happening you want to be a part of it again as soon as possible.
DFB.de: So during the time you were injured, were you a part of the team and its success?
Durm: I tried to be. I turned up to every meeting ready to take part and understand the new coach’s footballing philosophy. It went well. I had to go to rehab sessions now and again and thus missed the odd meeting but overall I took part. I was always there when the lads were training and I ate with them. I was in contact with the team throughout. It was really important for me.
DFB.de: When did you start thinking that the worst was over, you could be confident in your body and things could only get better?
Durm: I was on the bench for the first match after the winter break against Mönchengladbach and if I am honest it was a bit of a shock for me, especially with being a left-winger. Obviously I hadn’t been in the squad before then, but if I hadn’t have been fully fit I wouldn’t have been in there. Afterwards I needed a few more weeks to really feel like I was back to 100 percent. Even though I returned in January, it wasn’t until March that I was fully fit.
DFB.de: What are the small things that you need to do at this level?
Durm: Positional play, being in the right place, that is something that you only really get from match practice. I was lacking that a bit when I first came back but I feel I’ve got that back now. Knowing that my body was able to withstand everything was also important for me. My conditioning and performances can only get better.
DFB.de: So much better that you could still be a part of the squad for the European Championship in France?
Durm: I was injured for seven months so I can’t really say that I belong in the squad. It is solely the decision on the national team coaches. I am just happy that I am back in the team, getting minutes under my belt and showing what I can do. My health is the most important thing. We will have to see what else happens. It is crucial for me that I get to the summer without any new injuries. Hopefully we will be able to win two trophies and I’ll take anything else as it comes.
