DFB.de: Which leads me to ask you this question: What are the 50 or 60 other factors that are currently producing this period of struggling?
Mats Hummels: There aren’t that many to be honest. In my opinion, we haven’t been the weaker side in any of our games apart from the matches against Hamburg and in Munich. If you look at the shot-attempt statistics, you will find that we either attempted far more shots than our opposition or it was quite close. At the same time, however, our efficiency was never what it should be, which is obviously a fault of our own. If you allow your opponent to have clear-cut chances, he will score from them more likely than he would from 30 yards out. And if you don’t take advantage of your own chances, you make it worse for yourself. We know that we are the reason why we haven’t managed to win as many games recently. But it’s definitely not the case that we are playing worse or that we lack determination. Everything is almost the way it has always been. Efficiency is our major problem.
DFB.de: In the Bundesliga at least...
Mats Hummels: That’s the astonishing part and thanks for mentioning it. Everyone is acting like we have shown incredible performances in the Champions League. But in truth we only had decent performances against Anderlecht and Galatasaray but managed to convert our chances, nothing more. We took an early lead in both games, which clearly played into our hands.
DFB.de: You play Gladbach next in the Bundesliga. They are unbeaten this season and have conceded just five goals in ten games.
Mats Hummels: Absolutely. Gladbach are one of the strongest teams in Germany this year. I personally enjoy watching their games. Lucien Favre appears to be a fantastic manager, if I can say that as an outsider. Along with their unity and tactical qualities, Gladbach also have a lot of individual talent. They are a good team and it will be a tough battle, just like in previous years.
World Champion Mats Hummels would rather be on the pitch, helping out his team mates, but unfortunately the Borussia Dortmund defender is out of action having sprained his ligaments. DFB.de interviewed the Dortmund captain ahead of their clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday (17:30 CET).
When answering questions, Hummels always remains calm and analyses the situation in a factual and professional manner. He talks about raised expectations, lowered efficiency and personal faults. “We have caused our own problems, which is the reason why we have recorded so few victories this season.” He additionally talks about a factor, which is often neglected at the highest level of the sport where nuances can often make the difference: Luck.
DFB.de: Mr. Hummels, you have been with Dortmund for seven years now. Is the current situation comparable with anything you have experienced before?
Mats Hummels: I don’t want to detract from the current situation but we have gone through tougher times before, at least I have. In my first season with Dortmund under manager Thomas Doll we finished in 13th place and there was no real prospect that things would improve. That had a different feel to what we are currently experiencing. The difference is that today, if we manage to play to our full potential, show more consistency than recently and perhaps also have the required luck at times, we would quickly start to collect points again.
DFB.de: As a matter of fact it’s often forgotten that BVB have already suffered a seven game run without victory under Klopp, in 2009 from January until March. However, that streak only included two defeats instead of six. In August/September of the same year Dortmund failed to record a win in five consecutive games and in January/February 2010 you suffered four defeats from five games. All this didn’t happen too long ago.
Mats Hummels: That’s right. When you are in a situation like we are currently, you often think it’s never been this bad before, not even close. But if you then think back more intensely you realise that these situations have happened a few times before. From the past six seasons with Jürgen Klopp as our manager, we have endured phases like this one at least three times. Last season we also had a run where we managed just one win from six Bundesliga games between November and Christmas. One thing has changed from recent seasons however: Expectations. Our own and those of others.
DFB.de: What makes the current situation so difficult? Is it perhaps the raised expectations?
Mats Hummels: No, I don’t think so. Expectations are not the problem. Expectations are only something that you anticipate from yourself. Something you expressed before the season or before a game. In a game itself expectations become irrelevant. There are about 50 or 60 other factors that can decide a game.
DFB.de: Which leads me to ask you this question: What are the 50 or 60 other factors that are currently producing this period of struggling?
Mats Hummels: There aren’t that many to be honest. In my opinion, we haven’t been the weaker side in any of our games apart from the matches against Hamburg and in Munich. If you look at the shot-attempt statistics, you will find that we either attempted far more shots than our opposition or it was quite close. At the same time, however, our efficiency was never what it should be, which is obviously a fault of our own. If you allow your opponent to have clear-cut chances, he will score from them more likely than he would from 30 yards out. And if you don’t take advantage of your own chances, you make it worse for yourself. We know that we are the reason why we haven’t managed to win as many games recently. But it’s definitely not the case that we are playing worse or that we lack determination. Everything is almost the way it has always been. Efficiency is our major problem.
DFB.de: In the Bundesliga at least...
Mats Hummels: That’s the astonishing part and thanks for mentioning it. Everyone is acting like we have shown incredible performances in the Champions League. But in truth we only had decent performances against Anderlecht and Galatasaray but managed to convert our chances, nothing more. We took an early lead in both games, which clearly played into our hands.
DFB.de: You play Gladbach next in the Bundesliga. They are unbeaten this season and have conceded just five goals in ten games.
Mats Hummels: Absolutely. Gladbach are one of the strongest teams in Germany this year. I personally enjoy watching their games. Lucien Favre appears to be a fantastic manager, if I can say that as an outsider. Along with their unity and tactical qualities, Gladbach also have a lot of individual talent. They are a good team and it will be a tough battle, just like in previous years.
