Jonathan Tah has had a successful start to his Bayer Leverkusen career. The centre back has played in all nine competitive fixtures. But the signing from Hamburg who spent last season on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf last year cannot be best pleased with only six points from five Bundesliga games.
The current holder of the Fritz-Walter Medal in Gold in the 3-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund had a difficult task in dealing with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but he managed to keep the BVB goal machine in check. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, the 19-year-old spoke to us about the defeat to the league leaders, his first few months in Leverkusen, the intensity of the Bundesliga and his debut with the DFB U21s three weeks ago.
DFB.de Jonathan Tah, you’ve been a Bayer Leverkusen player since the 1st July. How well have you settled in at the club?
Jonathan Tah: Brilliantly. It’s a top club. I already knew that and that’s why I came here. The team has been really welcoming as well. All good so far.
DFB.de You’ve played the full 90 minutes in all nine competitive games so far. Did you ever think you’d be getting this much game time?
Tah: No, I didn’t. Obviously I hoped for it, but given the current situation [injuries to central defenders] it has had to be like this. I’m still pleased it’s gone so well for me personally though. Now we have to make sure we build on our performances that we’ve shown so far.
DFB.de: In the 3-0 defeat to Dortmund this only happened to an extent. Was the comprehensive win also down to the strength of the league leaders?
Tah:I wouldn’t say so. We were just caught sleeping at times and that’s why we conceded the goals. The 2-0 was a big setback, because prior to the goal we had been putting pressure on and creating chances, but we couldn’t convert them. Then we concede a stupid goal like that. After that it was difficult to try and get back into the game.
DFB.de: Are you pleased about there being a busy week, and that Leverkusen are right back in action against FSV Mainz?
Tah: Yeah, we can really show our true colour again on Wednesday. So it is definitely a good thing that we’re playing again so soon. We need to analyse our game against Dortmund and look at what we can improve on. We just need to carry on where we left off against Lazio. That means playing together as a team and forcing our game on the opposition. Then things will soon look better.
DFB.de: From the second division to the Bundesliga: What was the biggest difference for you?
Tah:You have to make much faster decisions, you have to be alert the whole time and just can’t afford to make any mistakes. When you do make mistakes, they really get punished.
DFB.de:At the moment you’re playing every three or four days. What do you make of this kind of high intensity?
Tah: To begin with it was quite intense. My body is starting to get used to it now. You have to make sure you use your time wisely and get enough rest in order to recuperate.
DFB.de: After Mainz, you come up against Werder Bremen on Saturday. What does your team have to do better in these games?
Tah: We have to play the kind of football that defines us, and be more consistent with it. Against Dortmund we were second to a lot of balls, and that can’t happen. We need to stay alert from start to finish. Against Mainz and Bremen everything is to play for. We just need to step it up a gear and give 100 percent.
DFB.de: At the end of September you will face Barcelona in the Champions League. Will playing in the Nou Camp be a dream come true for you?
Tah: Yeah of course, what more could a footballer want? It’s obviously a massive game and something special for every footballer.
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Jonathan Tah has had a successful start to his Bayer Leverkusen career. The centre back has played in all nine competitive fixtures. But the signing from Hamburg who spent last season on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf last year cannot be best pleased with only six points from five Bundesliga games.
The current holder of the Fritz-Walter Medal in Gold in the 3-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund had a difficult task in dealing with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but he managed to keep the BVB goal machine in check. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, the 19-year-old spoke to us about the defeat to the league leaders, his first few months in Leverkusen, the intensity of the Bundesliga and his debut with the DFB U21s three weeks ago.
DFB.de Jonathan Tah, you’ve been a Bayer Leverkusen player since the 1st July. How well have you settled in at the club?
Jonathan Tah: Brilliantly. It’s a top club. I already knew that and that’s why I came here. The team has been really welcoming as well. All good so far.
DFB.de You’ve played the full 90 minutes in all nine competitive games so far. Did you ever think you’d be getting this much game time?
Tah: No, I didn’t. Obviously I hoped for it, but given the current situation [injuries to central defenders] it has had to be like this. I’m still pleased it’s gone so well for me personally though. Now we have to make sure we build on our performances that we’ve shown so far.
DFB.de: In the 3-0 defeat to Dortmund this only happened to an extent. Was the comprehensive win also down to the strength of the league leaders?
Tah:I wouldn’t say so. We were just caught sleeping at times and that’s why we conceded the goals. The 2-0 was a big setback, because prior to the goal we had been putting pressure on and creating chances, but we couldn’t convert them. Then we concede a stupid goal like that. After that it was difficult to try and get back into the game.
DFB.de: Are you pleased about there being a busy week, and that Leverkusen are right back in action against FSV Mainz?
Tah: Yeah, we can really show our true colour again on Wednesday. So it is definitely a good thing that we’re playing again so soon. We need to analyse our game against Dortmund and look at what we can improve on. We just need to carry on where we left off against Lazio. That means playing together as a team and forcing our game on the opposition. Then things will soon look better.
DFB.de: From the second division to the Bundesliga: What was the biggest difference for you?
Tah:You have to make much faster decisions, you have to be alert the whole time and just can’t afford to make any mistakes. When you do make mistakes, they really get punished.
DFB.de:At the moment you’re playing every three or four days. What do you make of this kind of high intensity?
Tah: To begin with it was quite intense. My body is starting to get used to it now. You have to make sure you use your time wisely and get enough rest in order to recuperate.
DFB.de: After Mainz, you come up against Werder Bremen on Saturday. What does your team have to do better in these games?
Tah: We have to play the kind of football that defines us, and be more consistent with it. Against Dortmund we were second to a lot of balls, and that can’t happen. We need to stay alert from start to finish. Against Mainz and Bremen everything is to play for. We just need to step it up a gear and give 100 percent.
DFB.de: At the end of September you will face Barcelona in the Champions League. Will playing in the Nou Camp be a dream come true for you?
Tah: Yeah of course, what more could a footballer want? It’s obviously a massive game and something special for every footballer.
