Niklas Süle: "We still have a chance" | OneFootball

Niklas Süle on Borussia Dortmund's resurgence under Niko Kovač, Thomas Müller, the FIFA Club World Cup and more

Niklas Süle's return to fitness and form has coincided with Borussia Dortmund's late surge up the Bundesliga table. bundesliga.com caught up with the Germany defender to discuss BVB's revival under Niko Kovač, legendary former Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Müller, this summer's FIFA Club World Cup and more...

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bundesliga.com: What did you make of the Hoffenheim game on Matchday 31?

Niklas Süle: "Of course, we have to take responsibility for letting it get to this point. But I think the team showed that we have character, and can bounce back from setbacks or even turn a game around. We were dominating and leading 1-0, only to find ourselves winning 3-2 right before full time. These are traits that were also evident in other periods of the season, and we turned things around to a certain extent and perhaps deserved the win, as there were some key moments that went in our favour. But we don't need to apologise for those. I think we've also had certain decisions in the past that weren't entirely in our favour. We were very happy to take the three points from Hoffenheim because it was a very important game for the things we still have to achieve."

Süle has started Dortmund's last three Bundesliga matches. (IMAGO/Madeleine Fantini)

bundesliga.com: How important were the three points for your goals this season?

Süle: "We have made it very clear that for a club like Borussia Dortmund, the minimum goal should be to qualify for the Champions League. We have had a lot of different phases this year, and a lot of coaching changes, where we ourselves are of course mostly to blame, and we are currently trying to get ourselves back into a situation where we are successful week after week and picking up three points. We’ll then see what's enough at the end. It may well be that when you have more control over your own destiny, you have a better chance. But if we do our job, we definitely still have a chance."

bundesliga.com What has improved in recent weeks?

Süle: "I think we've already seen in other parts of the year that we haven't been able to show our true quality, but most of what matters in football is just that. It's just the way it is. And yes, Niko [Kovač] has definitely found a way to flip the switch and address certain things head-on. Mentality and discipline are also big issues for us, and I think we're getting there. We also have a lot of young players and, to be honest, a lot of untapped potential in many games, because I think they sometimes don't realise how good they can be. Niko is doing a relatively good job of bringing that out, and of course we have a lot of competition within the team, which is very important in order to know that if I'm not performing, someone else will, and that's how most top teams work, which is why they play with such intensity every week. That’s what we need to have every day in training. We don't need to play like that at the weekend, and I think that's particularly evident in the last three or four games you mentioned. And I think that's what we need to achieve."

Süle started his Bundesliga career with Hoffenheim, before moving to Dortmund via a spell at Bayern Munich. (imago sportfotodienst)

bundesliga.com: Have fewer injuries changed your situation?

Süle: "Yes, we have had various phases this season. If you look at right now, we also have an incredible number of important players who are out. But we are still Borussia Dortmund, and I believe we have a squad depth that is capable of compensating for that. You can see that right now, and that's why I believe in our own spirit where we want to win every game and be successful. That was perhaps a little less pronounced in some periods this year, but we're doing really well at the moment. You can see that in every training session here. It's fun because everyone is fully committed, and that makes it more fun at the weekend."

bundesliga.com: How do you see the current situation from a personal perspective?

Süle: "It's always more fun playing than sitting on the bench and watching. There's no question about that. I haven't had a period like this in my career yet. Not even last year, when it was mentally much more difficult for me, but in terms of a period of time when you don't play at all for 10-15 weeks - I haven't had that yet. But it helped me personally to work on certain things especially here in my head and to be able to assess certain things better. Particularly when things aren't going well, because when things are going well, you get carried away, but when things are more difficult, you need certain tools where you just say, OK, I’ll keep going, I'll keep pushing and I'll keep working on myself and eventually the time will come again where I can show what I'm capable of, or still know what I'm capable of. I've never worried about that, I know I can play football."

Süle has played with and against outgoing Bayern favourite Thomas Müller. (IMAGO/Ulrich Wagner)

bundesliga.com: How do you see your career and your status in the team?

Süle: "I've been here for a while. I'm 30 this year and made my debut for Hoffenheim when I was 17. So, I've been here in the Bundesliga for 12-13 years. It would be nice if I could be here for 15. Of course, I always have my own way of doing things, which, to be honest, is talked about and discussed a lot. I've had certain periods where I wasn't perhaps the number one professional, but I believe that I was still able to show what I'm capable of at the weekend. That's still possible, but when it doesn't happen or I'm going through a difficult phase, which I've had a few times here in Dortmund, I perhaps didn’t have quite the same confidence that I was used to. Then I got caught up in a negative spiral and had to work hard on myself, perhaps recognising things that I need to do a little differently, and I'm now on the right track and very happy that I sought help, worked through certain things and always believed in myself. So, that's how it will stay until I realise it’s changed at some point. Now I don't believe that so quickly anymore. So far, I don't have the impression that it's not working anymore, and I can judge that well because I'm very, very self-critical, but also self-confident in knowing what I can do."

bundesliga.com What does it mean to you to be back playing regularly again?

Süle: "It’s like that anywhere in football. If you come from a club like Bayern Munich and certain things are written or said, or even if you've already won a little bit, then of course you have peace of mind. There are the club's expectations, the natural expectations, there's more discussion about a player who isn't doing so well, probably, or if he's going through a bad patch, because that's probably just the way it is. Then you have to come to terms with it to a certain extent, because I also want to be in a position where I can take responsibility, especially in phases like this, when you've been playing for 15 weeks. Of course, it's also the case that a lot is written about someone like me, even though I'm not even on the pitch, and sometimes you have to come to terms with that, because you know yourself best. I'm actually doing great at the moment, but you can't see that because you're not there. Only what happens on the pitch counts. That's why something like this is good right now, because you can show that you want to help the team and, in the best-case scenario, win, and then everything is a bit easier. I’m always in the right place, of course, because I know that football is a very fast-paced game. But I'm happy with how things are going at the moment."

bundesliga.com: What do you make of Thomas Müller’s influence at Bayern?

Süle: "I can only speak about the five years I spent with him at Bayern. There will be a changing of the guard in this team next year, and I will be very interested to see who takes over, because I don't think it will be possible to replace Thomas. Regardless of his age, I have never seen anyone else shape a team the way he does, both in the dressing room and on the training ground. He is demanding and vocal, and I’ve not seen that with any player I've played with. It will be very interesting for Bayern now.  How will they cope? Apart from the fact that he is the figure most identified with the club – for decades, I would almost say - I don't think there has ever been anyone who has had such an impact on a club. And in any case, I'm sure the team will miss him. I can still name lots of players I played with there, but I hope he has a good send-off, because I think he more than deserves it. I hope he enjoys his last few weeks there. We'll probably be able to say goodbye to him in some way at the championship celebrations, or when it's won, at least. And then Bayern will have a huge task to replace someone like him in the dressing room and on the pitch. I mustn't forget that Thomas, who I think played 700 games for them, came through their youth system and became a world champion, and won the Champions League twice. It's unbelievable. I value him as a human being. We’ve had a great time, we’ve celebrated great successes together, and I can also say that he won't hold it against me that when I say he can be a demanding teammate, precisely because he sometimes has problems with whether you should say something or not. But no, he's become a good friend over the last few years, and I really wish him a great end to his career. He's someone that doesn't worry, and he can talk for ten people, but he's also amusing to be around."

bundesliga.com: What was your relationship like with Niko Kovač?

Süle: “We had a very successful time together in Munich. We won two titles together and I played every game with him, in fact, I don't think I ever sat on the bench with him. We actually always spoke frequently. I think he also appreciates me as a person and especially as a player. But he knows that I'm also a player who he has to rein it in a bit more sometimes, or give myself a kick in the backside. I think he and I always have an open exchange, which is very important to me in my coach. And that's why I'm very, very happy that we both have that."

What do you expect from the FIFA Club World Cup?

Süle: "I think it's very similar to the Champions League, as this year there is also a new format. Will it also be the first time that the whole world is watching? There are worse places to be than near Miami. We have three group matches against international teams, so it will be interesting to see how they play football. What will the level be like? Will the game be a bit different, especially playing football in a different country? We know from our trips to the USA that they are always amazing. So, I'm looking forward to the tournament, it's sure to be cool and of course we want to get there. It's definitely a tournament, and the format they've developed is really interesting. First of all, the country where we'll be playing and the opponents we'll be facing are interesting. You want to measure yourself against the best, and I think the best of the best will be there. I think the most successful teams have been doing this for 10 years, which is why I think it's going to be a cool tournament and a cool event."

bundesliga.com: How do you rate Dortmund’s season so far?

Süle: "In my first year here, we almost won the league, where we missed a huge opportunity. Then in the Champions League final, it wasn't easy either, but because we did it in the Champions League, that actually became the benchmark. For a club like Dortmund, that should be the standard you want to achieve consistently. We didn't start this season saying we want to win a cup and fight for fourth place in the Champions League. But for the moment, given how we messed up as a team before, to still be where we are is a success. I think in general it's been a very disappointing season for a club like ours, but of course you have to learn from it and go into next year with the same mindset. We are a club that wants to compete for the title - and that has to happen every year."

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