On September 9 at 3:00 AM Beijing time (1:00 PM CEST), Borussia Dortmund will host Villarreal for their opening match in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Ahead of the match, Borussia Dortmund defender Anton held a press conference.

First, with the long-awaited home stadium match, hopefully at full capacity, and listening to the Champions League anthem, how intense is your anticipation? At the same time, considering that last season's objectives in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal weren't fully achieved, do you also feel pressure?

Yes, our anticipation is very strong. I think for any player at Borussia Dortmund, a Champions League match at home is a very, very special experience. As for last season's objectives, our expectations were obviously a bit different, but either way, that's in the past. We need to look forward now, give our best, and take that first step tomorrow.

In last weekend's match, we saw an excellent Guirassy again. You've known him for a long time. What do you think of his current form? What makes him so strong right now? It seems he's back at the peak of his career.

Yes, I've known Guirassy for many years, and I know he can play even better than he's currently playing. But for a striker, scoring goals is always crucial. I think once you score that first goal, everything becomes easier and simpler. For us, the passion he shows on the pitch is also extremely important, as is the way he connects with his teammates. It's a huge help for our entire team, and I hope he can maintain this momentum.

My question is also related to Guirassy. There's a photo of you two where you seem to be scolding him harshly. What exactly happened in that moment? After all, there was no reason to be angry with him in last Saturday's match.

Regarding that photo, Guirassy and I were quite puzzled ourselves about when during the match it was taken. However, Guirassy and I have known each other for a long time. We understand each other very well and express our opinions directly on the pitch, and even if emotions sometimes run a bit high, we can always understand each other. It's actually funny because, as I said, we're constantly shouting at each other during every match, but we make up immediately afterward. In that particular match, he delivered a flawless performance and largely determined the outcome.

Over the last four official matches, the team has tried five or six different combinations of three center-backs, yet you've always occupied the central position—what everyone calls the "defensive leader," as the press officer just introduced you. Do you think it makes a difference having different people beside you? Does it matter if the person next to you usually plays left-back, right-back, or is a natural center-back?

First, regarding the term "defensive leader," I've always felt a bit unworthy of that title. Perhaps I have a little more experience than some of my younger teammates beside me, but even so, every member of our defense must take on leadership responsibility and must dare to speak up and direct play.

As for your question, yes—because everyone has different playing styles, habits, and positioning on the pitch, it certainly requires some adjustment when there are new players beside you. That said, we've trained and worked together for a long time, and we've had many joint training sessions. Therefore, to some extent, we've developed an understanding, and I think that understanding is very evident on the pitch, regardless of who's beside me. Everyone knows each other well and understands the team's tactics and positioning requirements, which is why we can perform so well and maintain a high level regardless of who's on the pitch.

We've just talked about Guirassy. I'd also like to ask about another teammate, Gade. He's integrated quickly into the team as an immediate impact player. What do you think of him? How much of an understanding have you developed? Are there still moments on the pitch where you need to guide him?

Yes, Gade is a top player. We have a very good relationship on and off the pitch, and he's also my neighbor. So while he's still very, very young and certainly has a lot to learn during his time at Borussia Dortmund, he's already demonstrated his extraordinary strength in matches. He just needs to stay humble, train hard, and consistently deliver high-level performances, like any young player. In this process, not just me, but the entire club and all his teammates will fully support him. He just needs to stay firmly on his own path.

Traduit par IA.

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