Kramer: "Leverkusen have a fantastic attack"

Christoph Kramer is remaining calm, even though Borussia Mönchengladbach face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (15:30 CEST). The World Champion has been on loan at Gladbach for the past two years and will return to Leverkusen at the end of the season. "For me, this game doesn’t hold any added significance," commented the Germany international. "Even if I think about the situation beforehand, I’m just fully focused on playing when I take to the pitch."

Both teams are fighting to secure direct qualification for next seasons Champions League. Third-placed Borussia currently have a two-point cushion over Bayer. DFB.de caught up with Christoph Kramer to discuss the match against Leverkusen, his time in Gladbach and his future.

DFB.de: Christoph Kramer, are you looking forward to the match against Bayer Leverkusen?

Christoph Kramer: Yes, it’s going to be a great game for players and spectators, both at the stadium and watching from elsewhere, alike. There’s a good deal resting on this game. Both teams have had a fantastic season so far and we’ve shown particularly good form in 2015. I hope that we have nice weather and I am really looking forward to the match.

DFB.de: Is it possible to put to one side the fact that you’re playing against your former teammates, who are also on the hunt for Champions League qualification?

Kramer: For me, this game doesn’t hold any added significance. Even if I think about the situation beforehand, I’m just fully focused on playing when I take to the pitch. I’m relatively relaxed. We’re guaranteed to finish either third or fourth; we just have to wait and see who’ll occupy which place. I think that both teams would be able to progress through the Champions League qualifying round. My aim is obviously to help the team I’m currently playing for take all three points and secure third place. I’m a footballer. When I take to the pitch, I want to win.

DFB.de: What’s going to prove the difference in separating the two teams on Saturday?

Kramer: That’s tricky to say. Both teams are on an equal footing. I think that we play better at home. When we play to our strengths and use our home advantage, we create chances to win the match. As our manager would say, the game is going to be decided by small details.

DFB.de: You recently mentioned that you watch Bayer Leverkusen’s matches when you have time. In your opinion, where do their strengths and weaknesses lie?

Kramer: They have an abundance of prolific attacking talents and have stabilised in defence. They‘re no longer as physical in their style of play and the football they now play is much more attractive. I’ve seen many games and there are lots of good elements to their play but it would be difficult to pinpoint where we can expose them. If you now asked me what our weaknesses are, I equally couldn’t disclose what exactly they are. Our manager would tell us to focus on our own performance.

DFB.de: There is lots of talk about this game being like a cup final to decide who finishes in third. Do you see it in this way?

Kramer: I’m not too sure about using the term ‘final’. It’s an important match, but there are only three points on offer. If we win, it was decisive and a final. If Leverkusen win or we draw, it still isn’t over.

DFB.de: Second-placed Wolfsburg are only two points ahead. Are you also looking to overtake them?

Kramer: It didn’t look like we could challenge them four, five weeks ago. There are now only two points in it so of course we’re looking above us. We have, however, maintained a game-by-game mentality so far this campaign and we’ll keep this approach until the end of the season.

DFB.de: Karim Bellarabi is suspended and will be missing for Bayer. Is that a real loss for their team?

Kramer: Definitely. He’s a key attacker for them; he has great ability in tight spaces and can carve out real opportunities for his side. It’s obviously a loss for them when he’s not available; however, they have a good player who can step up and compensate for his absence in Julian Brandt.

DFB.de: Gladbach last won at home against Leverkusen over 20 years ago…

Kramer: I’m always hearing statistics like that, every week. Borussia must have an inconceivably bad record against all teams. I’m constantly hearing things like "Borussia haven’t won in Berlin in 117 years" or "we’ve never won in Hoffenheim." I don’t pay much attention to these statistics because the squads have completely changed over that period.

DFB.de: Given the fantastic season the team has had, would it not be disappointing to end up finishing fourth?

Kramer: It would be disappointing. We’ve been brilliant so far this season and have a slender two points lead near the end. If we lose to Augsburg on the last matchday and finish in fourth, then we need to take a deep breath, count to ten and say: "fantastic season, guys." Then when you’ve had more time to reflect upon the outcome, there couldn’t be a more disappointing end to the season.

DFB.de: Gladbach are probably losing two key players in yourself and Max Kruse come the end of the season. That won’t be easy to deal with…

Kramer: It’s not easy for any team to deal with. When regulars leave, you always have to think long and hard about the situation. I think that Gladbach have always managed to find good solutions. This has been clear to see over the past few years. I’m not too worried about Gladbach and how they’ll get on next season.

DFB.de: What are your aims for the rest of the season?

Kramer: I’d like to finish the season as high as possible in the standings with Gladbach. I don’t think coming second is a realistic aim. I would, however, be delighted if the team finished third because I owe the club and have a lot to thank them for. Direct qualification for the Champions League would be a huge achievement for Gladbach. I don’t need a picture or a leaving present on the last matchday. What would be nice though is if the 54,010 fans stay in the stadium at the end, wave their scarves and sing. For me, that would be a fitting ending.

DFB.de: What are your plans for when the season is over?

Kramer: The move is already all settled. This means that I can just relax at the end of the season and have a break, which will do me the world of good. I didn’t have a holiday last summer and the five days over winter didn’t really count either therefore, I’m really looking forward to having a rest over summer.

DFB.de: When you leave Gladbach, what will you miss?

Kramer: It’s an open secret that the atmosphere in Gladbach is something really special. When you see it alongside other similar stadiums, like Hamburg, the atmosphere here is different. I can’t describe it and will certainly miss it. That’s why, as I already said, it would be fantastic to see the stadium really rocking for one last time after the Augsburg game. I have had a fantastic time at the club and will always look back fondly on the period I spent here.

DFB.de: What will you miss most about being coached and managed by Lucien Favre?

Kramer: Lots of things. He’s a super manager and I really like him as a person. He’s helped to mould me into the player I am today. I wasn’t terrible to begin with but there were one or two elements to my game that were missing. Lots of trainers can recognise where a player needs to improve, but not all are able to help you iron out the problem. It was often just me and him out on the training pitch in my first season and he did a lot of work with me individually. He’s been invaluable to me.

DFB.de: Which elements of your game do you still need to work on, particularly with regards to getting forward and attacking?

Kramer: I’ve read that my top speed has fallen from 32.1 to 31.8km/h. I need to take a look at that because I reckon I can be a bit quicker. I think that I still need to do some work on my athleticism and also I reckon I can improve my weaker left foot. I’m always getting into dangerous positions but I just can’t finish. I’d be delighted if I could add more goals to my game – I see real potential there.

DFB.de: Why is Leverkusen a good step for you?

Kramer: It’s a new challenge, a new situation and a new approach with a different style of play. I’m therefore really looking forward to it. When I was younger, I always wanted to play for the first team and hopefully I can fulfill that dream soon.

DFB.de: What are your aims with regards to the national team?

Kramer: My aim is to be involved with the side. There are already world class players in my position. I don’t consider myself to be at the same level as Bastian Schweinsteiger or Toni Kroos and I don’t know if I’ll ever attain such heights. If somebody had told me that I would make nine appearances for the national side, I would have said “well, I don’t know about that.” I’m really pleased with what I’ve already achieved with Germany and would be delighted to receive any further call-ups and get to feature in more international matches. I wouldn’t describe it as my aim though because I want to be a regular and always playing for the team.