One assist, one goal. The attacking winger Ibrahima Traoré played a big part in the DFB Cup game against St. Pauli which Borussia Mönchengladbach turned around after a temporary setback. After the 4-1 away win, the Guinea international speaks about the problems in the first half, the quality of his team and the beginning of the Bundesliga on Saturday evening (18:30 CEST) away to Borussia Dortmund.
Interviewer: Mr Traoré, why did your team deliver so differently in the two halves?
Ibrahima Traoré: In the first half we really struggled. We just didn’t play football. You got the feeling that they had a good team and above all that they were fit. They scored a great goal. We, on the other hand, never really got going in the game. During the half time break we said to ourselves that it would be difficult but that we had enough quality to turn the game around. We wanted to do a lot better in the second half.
Interviewer: It panned out well for you. In the second half your team seemed to be more determined to perform.
Traoré: That’s right. I don’t think we had a proper goalscoring opportunity in the first half. In the second half we combined with eachother better and immediately had the first chance.
Interviewer: In March there was a dispute between you and St. Pauli’s manager, Ewald Lienen, during a friendly. He was very annoyed about a foul you committed and later admitted that he said an unacceptable word to you. Have you put this dispute to the back of your mind?
Traoré: No. I went to Ewald Lienen after the match and offered him my hand as a sign of respect.
Interviewer: The travelling fans recognized your performance as they cheered your name in the second half . What do you feel in moments like these?
Traoré: It was a really beautiful moment. Our fans have recognised my quality from the first day and like me. I try to pay them back by playing well in games.
Interviewer: Now the first game of the Bundesliga away to Dortmund awaits.
Traoré: That will be a completely different game. We face a great team who will not make the same mistakes as last season. We take confidence with us from the cup game. But we also know that we will not be allowed to play as weak a first half as we did against St. Pauli. We must approach this game differently.
Interviewer: Your team is very strong down the wings. German international Patrick Herrmann sat on the bench initially and would later be substituted on for you. How do you see the competition for places in the starting eleven?
Traoré: This was the case last season too. I knew that I must be effective if I wanted to get any game time. I have done a good job of that in the build up to the season. It’s not enough to just play one good game.
Interviewer: The quality of your team allows you, rightly, to be confident.
Traoré: Of course, we saw that again today. Thorgan Hazard came into the game and scored a great goal. Everyone who gets a chance here must show their worth. Lars Stindl also had a great game. It is easy to play with such good players.
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One assist, one goal. The attacking winger Ibrahima Traoré played a big part in the DFB Cup game against St. Pauli which Borussia Mönchengladbach turned around after a temporary setback. After the 4-1 away win, the Guinea international speaks about the problems in the first half, the quality of his team and the beginning of the Bundesliga on Saturday evening (18:30 CEST) away to Borussia Dortmund.
Interviewer: Mr Traoré, why did your team deliver so differently in the two halves?
Ibrahima Traoré: In the first half we really struggled. We just didn’t play football. You got the feeling that they had a good team and above all that they were fit. They scored a great goal. We, on the other hand, never really got going in the game. During the half time break we said to ourselves that it would be difficult but that we had enough quality to turn the game around. We wanted to do a lot better in the second half.
Interviewer: It panned out well for you. In the second half your team seemed to be more determined to perform.
Traoré: That’s right. I don’t think we had a proper goalscoring opportunity in the first half. In the second half we combined with eachother better and immediately had the first chance.
Interviewer: In March there was a dispute between you and St. Pauli’s manager, Ewald Lienen, during a friendly. He was very annoyed about a foul you committed and later admitted that he said an unacceptable word to you. Have you put this dispute to the back of your mind?
Traoré: No. I went to Ewald Lienen after the match and offered him my hand as a sign of respect.
Interviewer: The travelling fans recognized your performance as they cheered your name in the second half . What do you feel in moments like these?
Traoré: It was a really beautiful moment. Our fans have recognised my quality from the first day and like me. I try to pay them back by playing well in games.
Interviewer: Now the first game of the Bundesliga away to Dortmund awaits.
Traoré: That will be a completely different game. We face a great team who will not make the same mistakes as last season. We take confidence with us from the cup game. But we also know that we will not be allowed to play as weak a first half as we did against St. Pauli. We must approach this game differently.
Interviewer: Your team is very strong down the wings. German international Patrick Herrmann sat on the bench initially and would later be substituted on for you. How do you see the competition for places in the starting eleven?
Traoré: This was the case last season too. I knew that I must be effective if I wanted to get any game time. I have done a good job of that in the build up to the season. It’s not enough to just play one good game.
Interviewer: The quality of your team allows you, rightly, to be confident.
Traoré: Of course, we saw that again today. Thorgan Hazard came into the game and scored a great goal. Everyone who gets a chance here must show their worth. Lars Stindl also had a great game. It is easy to play with such good players.
