Jonas Hector featured in the Gerany team that drew 1-1 with Denmark on Tuesday evening, marking his 28th Germany cap. Despite being a friendly it was an intense gave, and the 27-year old gave his thoughts on it, the team’s performance and more while speaking to DFB.de.
DFB.de: Mr. Hector, that was a pretty intense game on the whole. Did you expect that going into it?
Jonas Hector: That I do not know, but it really was a very intense game. I have not been in regular training over the past few weeks, and I was beginning to feel it towards the end of the game.
DFB.de: And then in the 84th minute…
Hector: Both legs began to shut down, especially the left. We played three at the back, and in that setup you have to be present defensively and offensively, and things do not slow down for even a moment. If you lose the ball high up, then it is instantly a long way back.
DFB.de: While you were only able to train once, you started the game alongside three debutants, and the team collectively put in a strong performance from front to back. With the game in Copenhagen in mind, what is in store at the Confederations Cup?
Hector: First of all we have to find ourselves. We put in a good performance – going forward we created a lot of chances, but were generally just a shade off turning them into goals. We could have scored one or two more, but if we can build on the performance we showed against Denmark in the next few training sessions and get to know each other better as a team, then we will do well in Russia.
DFB.de: How many times have you re-watched the winning penalty from the shootout against Italy this summer?
Hector: Every now and then. In the weeks after the tournament it was naturally talked about quite a lot, but these days I think I am asked more occasionally about it.
DFB.de: The stage will be even bigger at next year’s World Cup.
Hector: It is a tournament that I have so far never played in. I have heard that the World Cup is like the EUROs twice over. I am looking forward to the World Cup in Russia and want to make sure this year that I can secure a place in the squad.
DFB.de: If you will allow it, now for something completely different. In the last few days there has been a great deal of discussion about the commercial side of football. How have you experienced that development as a Bundesliga player and member of the national team? Is it excessive, with regard to the balance between the on-pitch sport and the events of the business side off it?
Hector: There is undoubtedly a massive development in progress. Things are certainly far more marketed than they were earlier in my career. The general use of the internet, every social media channel for the players and clubs, we all do to at least some level. But when does it become too much? Of course, these questions must always be asked, but it is also about generating money and lifting German football’s statsus internationally. Where do you draw the line if some fans are critical? I think you have to proceed carefully, but I myself have no influence on that.
DFB.de: But football does exist in the heart of your life and work.
Hector: There are appointments here and there that perhaps I would rather not have but that comes with the territory of being in the 1. FC Köln first team and being a part of the national setup; and these things do not tend to take long.
DFB.de: How does that impact the closeness of fans?
Hector: The training ground in Cologne is not closed off, and people will always come and watch. That is usually great, but in some cases there is an element of respect missing that we deserve as players. It cuts both ways. Fans sometimes stay for upwards of half an hour to get photos with players – we have to give that the necessary respect. It fits both ways.
Jonas Hector featured in the Gerany team that drew 1-1 with Denmark on Tuesday evening, marking his 28th Germany cap. Despite being a friendly it was an intense gave, and the 27-year old gave his thoughts on it, the team’s performance and more while speaking to DFB.de.
DFB.de: Mr. Hector, that was a pretty intense game on the whole. Did you expect that going into it?
Jonas Hector: That I do not know, but it really was a very intense game. I have not been in regular training over the past few weeks, and I was beginning to feel it towards the end of the game.
DFB.de: And then in the 84th minute…
Hector: Both legs began to shut down, especially the left. We played three at the back, and in that setup you have to be present defensively and offensively, and things do not slow down for even a moment. If you lose the ball high up, then it is instantly a long way back.
DFB.de: While you were only able to train once, you started the game alongside three debutants, and the team collectively put in a strong performance from front to back. With the game in Copenhagen in mind, what is in store at the Confederations Cup?
Hector: First of all we have to find ourselves. We put in a good performance – going forward we created a lot of chances, but were generally just a shade off turning them into goals. We could have scored one or two more, but if we can build on the performance we showed against Denmark in the next few training sessions and get to know each other better as a team, then we will do well in Russia.
DFB.de: How many times have you re-watched the winning penalty from the shootout against Italy this summer?
Hector: Every now and then. In the weeks after the tournament it was naturally talked about quite a lot, but these days I think I am asked more occasionally about it.
DFB.de: The stage will be even bigger at next year’s World Cup.
Hector: It is a tournament that I have so far never played in. I have heard that the World Cup is like the EUROs twice over. I am looking forward to the World Cup in Russia and want to make sure this year that I can secure a place in the squad.
DFB.de: If you will allow it, now for something completely different. In the last few days there has been a great deal of discussion about the commercial side of football. How have you experienced that development as a Bundesliga player and member of the national team? Is it excessive, with regard to the balance between the on-pitch sport and the events of the business side off it?
Hector: There is undoubtedly a massive development in progress. Things are certainly far more marketed than they were earlier in my career. The general use of the internet, every social media channel for the players and clubs, we all do to at least some level. But when does it become too much? Of course, these questions must always be asked, but it is also about generating money and lifting German football’s statsus internationally. Where do you draw the line if some fans are critical? I think you have to proceed carefully, but I myself have no influence on that.
DFB.de: But football does exist in the heart of your life and work.
Hector: There are appointments here and there that perhaps I would rather not have but that comes with the territory of being in the 1. FC Köln first team and being a part of the national setup; and these things do not tend to take long.
DFB.de: How does that impact the closeness of fans?
Hector: The training ground in Cologne is not closed off, and people will always come and watch. That is usually great, but in some cases there is an element of respect missing that we deserve as players. It cuts both ways. Fans sometimes stay for upwards of half an hour to get photos with players – we have to give that the necessary respect. It fits both ways.
