Heurelho Gomes: “Ready to help”

Heurelho, welcome to Hoffenheim. What's your first impression of the Kraichgau after a year in London?

I like it here. I'm living in a hotel in Heidelberg at the moment and it's a very pretty city. It's a little hectic here but that is often not a bad thing for one's concentration.

After nearly 100 Premier League games and over 60 European appearances, things have been a bit quieter for you lately. Are you fit and ready for the difficult task ahead at TSG?

Yes I am. I'm in great shape physically and as for the lack of match practice, well, my experience will compensate for that. I am ready to help.

How did the transfer come about?

It was quite a surprise. There were a couple of options but they broke down. After that, I really thought I was going to be staying at Tottenham. Then, a few days ago, the request came through from Hoffenheim. I didn't have time to hesitate really but I didn't want to either. The Bundesliga is a great league and I want to show off my strengths again.

Had you heard of Hoffenheim before your move?

Of course. I follow the Bundesliga on TV. My friend Josué plays in Wolfsburg so I often watch his games. I know that Hoffenheim are a great club though, and a well organised one too. I spoke to Gylfi Sigurdsson as well, seeing as he used to play for TSG.

What are your aims for the rest of the season?

I want to make the most of this opportunity at Hoffenheim and play as often as possible. Above all, making an important contribution that will see the team stay in the division is pivotal. Everything else is irrelevant.

What can the fans expect from you?

I am an open type of guy. The fans are the twelfth man for the team. They give them that extra push in order to get over the line. They are more important than the players because they are always there. That much I do know. I hope that the fans stick behind us at TSG and help us to get out of this situation.