At 3:00 AM Beijing time (CEST) on September 9, Borussia Dortmund will host Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League group stage playoff round. Ahead of the match, Borussia Dortmund defender Anton attended a press conference.

First, you must be feeling great anticipation now that the home match, which has finally arrived and is expected to sell out, is just ahead. And you'll hear the Champions League anthem. But at the same time, given that last season's objectives in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal weren't fully achieved, are you also feeling some pressure?

Yes, we're very excited. I think for every player at Borussia Dortmund, a home Champions League match is a very, very special experience. As for last season's objectives, clearly what we imagined was somewhat different, but that's all in the past now. We need to look forward, give our best, and take the first step tomorrow.

In last weekend's match, we saw an outstanding Guirassy once again. You've known him for a long time. What's your assessment 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 Serhou for many years, and I know he can play better than he is now. But for a striker, scoring goals is always crucial. I think once you score your first goal, everything becomes easier and simpler. For us, the enthusiasm he shows on the pitch is very important, as is how he connects with his teammates, which is a big help for our entire team. I hope he can continue this momentum.

My question is actually also related to Serhou. There's a photo of you two together where it looks like you're scolding him pretty harshly. What actually happened in that moment? In any case, after Saturday's match, there's no reason for anyone to be upset with him.

About that photo, to be honest, we're both still not entirely sure which match it was taken from. But Serhou and I have known each other a long time, we understand each other very well, and we communicate our opinions directly on the pitch. Even if emotions occasionally run high, we still understand each other. It's actually quite funny, because as I said, in almost every match we have moments where we're shouting at each other, but we make up right after. In that particular match, he played flawlessly and was largely decisive in the result.

In the last four official matches, the team seems to have tried five or six different combinations of three centre-backs, yet you always stand in the central position as the "defensive leader" that everyone talks about – the press officer just introduced you that way – do you think it makes a difference who is alongside you? Does it matter whether the person next to you is accustomed to playing left-back, right-back, or natural centre-back?

First, regarding the term "defensive leader," I've always felt a bit uncomfortable with it. Perhaps I do have slightly more experience than some of the younger teammates next to me, but nonetheless, everyone in our defence must take on leadership responsibility, and everyone must be willing to speak and command.

Regarding your question, yes, because of different playing styles, habits on the pitch, and each person's different positioning, adaptation is naturally needed when there are personnel changes next to you. That said, we've trained and worked together for a long time and have gone through many training sessions together. Therefore, to a certain extent, we've built an unspoken understanding, and I think this unspoken understanding is very clear on the pitch, regardless of who is next to me. Everyone knows each other well and also understands the team's tactics and positional requirements, which is why we can perform very well and maintain a high level regardless of who is on the pitch.

We just spoke about Serhou Guirassy, and I'd also like to ask about your other teammate Gadou. He integrated into the team quickly as an immediate impact player. What's your assessment of him? How has your relationship with him developed? Are there still moments on the pitch where you need to guide him?

Yes, Gadou is a top player. We have a very good relationship both on and off the pitch; he's actually my neighbor. So even though he's still very, very young and of course has much to learn during his time at Borussia Dortmund, he's already shown his outstanding ability in matches. He just needs to stay grounded, work hard, and consistently perform at a high level, like every young player. In this process, not just me, but the entire club and all his teammates will fully support him. He just needs to steadily follow his own path.

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