Fabian Johnson had a magnificent season with Borussia Möchengladbach. The USA international player secured direct qualification to the Champions League with “The Foals” and will now take on some of the best in Europe. Before that, the 27-year-old all rounder will have two friendly matches. The first comes against the Netherlands on Friday, before taking on World champions Germany on 10th June in Cologne.
Afterwards, Johnson will be in the Gold Cup as Jürgen Klinsmann’s side tries to defend their title. DFB.de correspondent Thomas Hackbarth sat down with Fabian Johnson as they spoke about his success with Borussia, his German American identity and his progress at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
DFB.de: Borussia Möchengladbach directly qualified for the Champions League. Congratulations!
Fabian Johnson: Thank you.
DFB.de: Will you be travelling straight to America or will you have some days to vacation?
Johnson: There are very little free days. First there are both friendlies against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, and against Germany in Cologne. Afterwards, there is the Gold Cup.
DFB.de: How tiring is it to travel for a USA game especially if it is played on the West Coast?
Fabian Johnson: It is hard, but since this previous year was a World Cup year, we played less.
DFB.de: USA, Mexico and Costa Rica are seen as the favourites for the Gold Cup. Do you see another team joining the race?
Johnson: If we played like we have done in the past then we will win the tournament, I am positive.
DFB.de: What does your coach at Gladbach Lucien Favre say to your participation in tournament?
Johnson: Of course he would rather have me in Germany, but if Jürgen Klinsmann nominates me for the national team, of course I will go. We are the hosts and defending champions so I want to play.
DFB.de: You were constantly used during the second half. It wouldn’t hurt to take a break, right?
Johnson: Definitely, it’s important to free your head and not think about football. But like I said, now you know why I decided to take part in the Gold Cup.
DFB.de: It was Gladbach’s best second half performance of all time. Only ten goals given up and you guys clinched a spot in the Champions League. How much fun was the second half of the season?
Johnson: It was so much fun. We went on a good run that we took advantage of. Therefore, our qualification in the Champions League is deserved. Every player and everyone from the club played a big part in order to reach our goal.
DFB.de: You assisted six goals this season. Is the next step for your development to score goals?
Johnson: Definitely. But, whoever scores the goals doesn’t really matter as long as we win. We always stick together as a team and never become too egoistical.
DFB.de: Will Champions League player Fabian Johnson go with other expectations to the US national team?
Johnson: I have a good standing in the national team. Besides that, the friendlies and the Gold Cup are just another competition. I think that I am a leader in the team. The variety of players we have works really well.
DFB.de: What goals do the US team want to achieve in their friendly matches in Amsterdam and against the champions in Cologne?
Johnson:´This is going to be a huge challenge for us. We are playing against two massive countries that have some of the best players in the world. Both games will be good preparation for the Gold Cup. Every player wants to show what they are made of. After the game in Cologne, Jürgen Klinsmann will pick his team for the tournament. The World Cup last year showed that football has developed in America. The TV numbers from the World Cup games were okay, but it’s very hard for football to compete with Baseball, Basketball and American Football.
DFB.de: Is the game against Germany something special for you personally?
Johnson: Of course, we are playing against the World Champions, but it is not the first time I will play against Germany and my old friends.
DFB.de: Did you grow up near “Zugspitzstrasse 6”?
Johnson: No, not really.
DFB.de: Did you know who grew up there?
Johnson: Franz Beckenbauer?
DFB.de: Exactly.
Johnson: Every young footballer knew that he came from our area.
DFB.de: You’re a USA international but grew up in Munich. Tell us a bit about your German-American identity.
Johnson: My father was a soldier in the US Army and met my mother when he was stationed in Mannheim. I’m bilingual but grew up surrounded more by German and Bavarian. I still feel very comfortable in Munich and my family and friends live there.
DFB.de: Why did you follow up Klinsmann’s call?
Johnson: He simply called me up and made the suggestion. I then flew over, met the squad and the management team. It all went fine, suited me and was a new challenge. I’ve now played in a World Cup, which was a super experience and helped me to develop further as a player.
DFB.de: You signed your contract with Borussia just before the World Cup and commented "I want to take the next step" at your first press conference. Has that happened?
Johnson: Yes, I think so. It didn’t look like it would though in the first half of the season. I missed a part of pre-season due to the World Cup and had just moved to a new team. I never buried my head in the sand though. I took my chance after the winter break and then I managed to make the next step in my development.
DFB.de: Is left wing your preferred position?
Johnson: It’s clear to see that when you regularly play in a position things just come naturally. You feel very comfortable when you know exactly what you have to do.
DFB.de: Do you know exactly what Favre expects from you in games?
Johnson: He is very meticulous; he also has concrete ideas of where players need to be, both in attacking and defensive situations.
DFB.de: Two Germany internationals, Christoph Kramer (back to Bayer Leverkusen; editor’s note.) and Max Kruse (to DFB Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg; editor’s note.), are leaving Gladbach this summer. Are you concerned about how you’ll manage without them?
Johnson: It’s not the first time that good players have left Gladbach. Reus, Dante and Marin all previously moved on and questions were always raised on how they’d be replaced. It’s worked out fine every time so far though. We hope that will also be the case on this occasion.
DFB.de: Which team would you like to come up against in the Champions League?
Johnson: I still haven’t given it any thought. We want to play against the top teams though as that’s what the Champions League is all about. We’re really looking forward to it.
[mmc/bb&kr]
Fabian Johnson had a magnificent season with Borussia Möchengladbach. The USA international player secured direct qualification to the Champions League with “The Foals” and will now take on some of the best in Europe. Before that, the 27-year-old all rounder will have two friendly matches. The first comes against the Netherlands on Friday, before taking on World champions Germany on 10th June in Cologne.
Afterwards, Johnson will be in the Gold Cup as Jürgen Klinsmann’s side tries to defend their title. DFB.de correspondent Thomas Hackbarth sat down with Fabian Johnson as they spoke about his success with Borussia, his German American identity and his progress at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
DFB.de: Borussia Möchengladbach directly qualified for the Champions League. Congratulations!
Fabian Johnson: Thank you.
DFB.de: Will you be travelling straight to America or will you have some days to vacation?
Johnson: There are very little free days. First there are both friendlies against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, and against Germany in Cologne. Afterwards, there is the Gold Cup.
DFB.de: How tiring is it to travel for a USA game especially if it is played on the West Coast?
Fabian Johnson: It is hard, but since this previous year was a World Cup year, we played less.
DFB.de: USA, Mexico and Costa Rica are seen as the favourites for the Gold Cup. Do you see another team joining the race?
Johnson: If we played like we have done in the past then we will win the tournament, I am positive.
DFB.de: What does your coach at Gladbach Lucien Favre say to your participation in tournament?
Johnson: Of course he would rather have me in Germany, but if Jürgen Klinsmann nominates me for the national team, of course I will go. We are the hosts and defending champions so I want to play.
DFB.de: You were constantly used during the second half. It wouldn’t hurt to take a break, right?
Johnson: Definitely, it’s important to free your head and not think about football. But like I said, now you know why I decided to take part in the Gold Cup.
DFB.de: It was Gladbach’s best second half performance of all time. Only ten goals given up and you guys clinched a spot in the Champions League. How much fun was the second half of the season?
Johnson: It was so much fun. We went on a good run that we took advantage of. Therefore, our qualification in the Champions League is deserved. Every player and everyone from the club played a big part in order to reach our goal.
DFB.de: You assisted six goals this season. Is the next step for your development to score goals?
Johnson: Definitely. But, whoever scores the goals doesn’t really matter as long as we win. We always stick together as a team and never become too egoistical.
DFB.de: Will Champions League player Fabian Johnson go with other expectations to the US national team?
Johnson: I have a good standing in the national team. Besides that, the friendlies and the Gold Cup are just another competition. I think that I am a leader in the team. The variety of players we have works really well.
DFB.de: What goals do the US team want to achieve in their friendly matches in Amsterdam and against the champions in Cologne?
Johnson:´This is going to be a huge challenge for us. We are playing against two massive countries that have some of the best players in the world. Both games will be good preparation for the Gold Cup. Every player wants to show what they are made of. After the game in Cologne, Jürgen Klinsmann will pick his team for the tournament. The World Cup last year showed that football has developed in America. The TV numbers from the World Cup games were okay, but it’s very hard for football to compete with Baseball, Basketball and American Football.
DFB.de: Is the game against Germany something special for you personally?
Johnson: Of course, we are playing against the World Champions, but it is not the first time I will play against Germany and my old friends.
DFB.de: Did you grow up near “Zugspitzstrasse 6”?
Johnson: No, not really.
DFB.de: Did you know who grew up there?
Johnson: Franz Beckenbauer?
DFB.de: Exactly.
Johnson: Every young footballer knew that he came from our area.
DFB.de: You’re a USA international but grew up in Munich. Tell us a bit about your German-American identity.
Johnson: My father was a soldier in the US Army and met my mother when he was stationed in Mannheim. I’m bilingual but grew up surrounded more by German and Bavarian. I still feel very comfortable in Munich and my family and friends live there.
DFB.de: Why did you follow up Klinsmann’s call?
Johnson: He simply called me up and made the suggestion. I then flew over, met the squad and the management team. It all went fine, suited me and was a new challenge. I’ve now played in a World Cup, which was a super experience and helped me to develop further as a player.
DFB.de: You signed your contract with Borussia just before the World Cup and commented "I want to take the next step" at your first press conference. Has that happened?
Johnson: Yes, I think so. It didn’t look like it would though in the first half of the season. I missed a part of pre-season due to the World Cup and had just moved to a new team. I never buried my head in the sand though. I took my chance after the winter break and then I managed to make the next step in my development.
DFB.de: Is left wing your preferred position?
Johnson: It’s clear to see that when you regularly play in a position things just come naturally. You feel very comfortable when you know exactly what you have to do.
DFB.de: Do you know exactly what Favre expects from you in games?
Johnson: He is very meticulous; he also has concrete ideas of where players need to be, both in attacking and defensive situations.
DFB.de: Two Germany internationals, Christoph Kramer (back to Bayer Leverkusen; editor’s note.) and Max Kruse (to DFB Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg; editor’s note.), are leaving Gladbach this summer. Are you concerned about how you’ll manage without them?
Johnson: It’s not the first time that good players have left Gladbach. Reus, Dante and Marin all previously moved on and questions were always raised on how they’d be replaced. It’s worked out fine every time so far though. We hope that will also be the case on this occasion.
DFB.de: Which team would you like to come up against in the Champions League?
Johnson: I still haven’t given it any thought. We want to play against the top teams though as that’s what the Champions League is all about. We’re really looking forward to it.
