DFB.de: Did you ever play Köln against Hoffenheim?
Süle: Not really, we restricted ourselves to Champions League teams.
DFB.de: Mr Horn, things are going very well for 1. FC Köln at the moment. What is making the team so strong this season?
Horn: The team has most stayed together and therefore we have strengthened well as a team. You can sense that we are playing with more confidence. We were quite solid defensively last season, but now we are a lot braver against stronger teams, we put them under pressure and move the ball forward with good passing. As a result we are creating more chances.
DFB.de: Mr Süle, you and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are also enjoying a solid start to the season. The club finds itself in the top half of the table – are there parallels to Köln’s success?
Süle: Yes, from a sporting perspective sure. We’re both having a good run in the Bundesliga. Our manager always gives us clear instructions. We know what to do and what to expect against every opponent. In defence we are able to switch between a three, four or five-man defence, so we have become a lot more versatile in our game.
DFB.de: You recently mentioned that you are being more professional in your personal which is helping your overall performance. What have you done in particular?
Süle: Over the course of my cruciate ligament rupture (December 2014), I thought about a lot of things. For me it became that clear that I wanted to come out of rehab a much stronger person. For example, I’m now a lot more aware of what I eat and a lot healthier in what I eat. I also understand the importance of physio treatment and take a lot more professional care of my body. This was all very important for me.
DFB.de: Mr Horn, what targets do you have in terms of your international career?
Horn: I just want to keep performing well for FC Köln which will lead to me getting noticed more. Manuel Neuer is the absolute number one goalkeeper in Germany and even behind him, there are some fantastic keepers. I think I have a chance though and the Olympic games were definitely a good platform for me to show my ability.
66 days have passed since the Germany Olympics team took home silver in Rio de Janeiro. Two key players in that team were 1. FC Köln goalkeeper Timo Horn and centre back Niklas Süle of 1899 Hoffenheim. On Wednesday evening (20:45 CEST), the two Olympic heroes go head-to-head in the DFB Cup. Ahead of the clash between the two Bundesliga clubs, we caught up with the two in an exclusive double-interview to reflect on their Olympic success, the DFB cup tie and both club’s recent good form.
DFB.de: Mr Süle, in the space of five days you will have made two trips to the Rheinland: first in the Bundesliga to face Leverkusen last Saturday, then on Wednesday to Cologne. Has Timo Horn offered you his couch to sleep on?
Niklas Süle: No, he hasn’t (laughs). In any case I would have to decline. Before away games the team sleeps in the team hotel and we have quite a busy schedule. All our concentration is on the game.
Timo Horn: Before a game, everyone is focused and wants to win. After full time, there will definitely be some time to catch up, either on the pitch or outside the changing rooms. Assuming Niklas isn’t too disappointed, of course (laughs).
DFB.de: Is the Olympics and your silver medal win still something you talk about?
Süle: We will never forget the Olympics for as long as we live. It’s a unique time that will stay with us forever. But now we are all back to our usual routines. I want to continue my development in Hoffenheim and achieve our goals with my club.
Horn: Time moves so quickly. Of course we are always in contact with the other lads and of course Rio is one of the things we talk about, but the focus has been back on the Bundesliga for a while now.
DFB.de: Are there any special moments that the two of you share?
Horn: There are indeed! Niklas likes to play a few risky passes to the goalkeeper from time to time, something I’m not so used to at Köln (laughs). In all seriousness though, it was super having him in front of me in defence at the Olympics. He’s a brilliant tackler on the pitch, and a great guy off it.
Süle: We lived together in shared players’ flat in the Olympic village. We got on very well from day one and spoke a lot about the Bundesliga. I seem to remember the playstation controllers flying everywhere as well!
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DFB.de: Did you ever play Köln against Hoffenheim?
Süle: Not really, we restricted ourselves to Champions League teams.
DFB.de: Mr Horn, things are going very well for 1. FC Köln at the moment. What is making the team so strong this season?
Horn: The team has most stayed together and therefore we have strengthened well as a team. You can sense that we are playing with more confidence. We were quite solid defensively last season, but now we are a lot braver against stronger teams, we put them under pressure and move the ball forward with good passing. As a result we are creating more chances.
DFB.de: Mr Süle, you and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are also enjoying a solid start to the season. The club finds itself in the top half of the table – are there parallels to Köln’s success?
Süle: Yes, from a sporting perspective sure. We’re both having a good run in the Bundesliga. Our manager always gives us clear instructions. We know what to do and what to expect against every opponent. In defence we are able to switch between a three, four or five-man defence, so we have become a lot more versatile in our game.
DFB.de: You recently mentioned that you are being more professional in your personal which is helping your overall performance. What have you done in particular?
Süle: Over the course of my cruciate ligament rupture (December 2014), I thought about a lot of things. For me it became that clear that I wanted to come out of rehab a much stronger person. For example, I’m now a lot more aware of what I eat and a lot healthier in what I eat. I also understand the importance of physio treatment and take a lot more professional care of my body. This was all very important for me.
DFB.de: Mr Horn, what targets do you have in terms of your international career?
Horn: I just want to keep performing well for FC Köln which will lead to me getting noticed more. Manuel Neuer is the absolute number one goalkeeper in Germany and even behind him, there are some fantastic keepers. I think I have a chance though and the Olympic games were definitely a good platform for me to show my ability.
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DFB.de: This is also a question for you, Mr Süle. You could be playing in both the confederation cup and the U21 European Championships.
Süle: There are hopefully still quite a few Bundesliga games to contest before I start thinking about that. Right now, I am just thinking about putting in good performances to help my team. It is basically a win-win situation for me to be able to play in the Confederations Cup and U21 Euros, both of which are huge tournaments and good platforms to develop your game. I would be delighted if I got the call-up.
DFB.de: Before we finish, there is just one final thing that needs clearing up. Which side will make it to the next round of the DFB Cup on Wendesday evening?
Süle: We will both definitely have the same objective! laughs
DFB.de: We are delighted that we have a home cup game, which we haven’t had in a while. With our fans in the cheering us on we will want to make it through to the next round.
Süle: It will be difficult. After we were knocked out in the first round last year, we are desperate to make it to the last 16 this time out.
