FIRST TEAM
06/25/2012

Derdiyok: “A new beginning in Hoffenheim”

In Germany's final friendly before travelling to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, he scored a sensational hat-trick against them. Now Eren Derdiyok is officially a TSG 1899 Hoffenheim player, having just joined up with the first team squad at their training base in Füssen. In an exclusive interview with achtzehn99.de he now speaks of his enthusiasm about playing for Hoffenheim and the European Championships.

Eren, what are your first impressions of the training camp at Füssen and your new teammates?

I feel pretty much at home already. The surrounding area here reminds me of being back home in Switzerland. I haven't really got to know the team that well yet, but I'll have the opportunity to address that in the next few days.

What was your general thinking before you joined up with the team?

My first priority was fitness. I know I can only help the team if I'm in peak physical condition. But it's also important that we define ourselves as a team. I'm convinced that we have the potential in this squad to play attractive football that also brings success.

You had other offers on the table, so what made you decide to move to TSG Hoffenheim?

I thought a lot about my decision. I had a really great time in Leverkusen, but I had the feeling that I needed a change. But what really attracted me to Hoffenheim were the conversations I had with manager Markus Babbel. He convinced me of the club's and his philosophy. I have the opportunity for a new beginning here in Hoffenheim.

Germany are currently in the semi-finals of the Euros, with your former teammates Lars Bender and André Schürrle having enjoyed good tournaments so far on a personal level. Did you think Germany would be so dominant and reach this stage after scoring a hat-tick against them recently?

Absolutely. Germany have been my favourites since the beginning of the tournament. Of course we were all very pleased to beat them 5-3, and none more so than me after I managed to score three. But we were in good shape going into that game, whereas they had just come from an intensive period of training and their legs were heavy. We were simply fresher than them. But I always knew that they would write that defeat off and move on.

And do you think that they will win Euro 2012?

Germany are always there or thereabouts in the latter stages of tournaments, and always have been. They haven't won a title for a while now, but this team is definitely capable of doing that. And I would be very happy to see them win it.

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