SoccerBible caught up with Sebastian Kehl, captain of Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund. The midfield player has been with the club for over 10 years, and in that time has enjoyed winning the Bundesliga title on no less than three occasions. At the recent PUMA launch of the new BVB kit, we got the chance to sit down with Kehl...
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As well as getting Sebastian's opinion on the new kit, we wanted to look ahead to the new season, hear who Sebastian thinks is the best midfielder in the game, and what Manchester United fans can expect from new signing Kagawa.
This is a first season for Dortmund with PUMA, what do you think of the
kit?
Sebastian Kehl: I really like the new kit. It has a nice and classic design and the fit
feels comfortable. In general I am looking forward to the new partnership
with PUMA, because it is a great step forward for the club to have signed
this deal.
Is the look, fit and feel important to the players on the pitch?
SK: To the players, the kit is very important. Also because the technical
partner does not only provide the kit, they also produce the whole training
wear. So we wear it on a day-to-day basis and it is very important to feel
comfortable and to have enough freedom of movement.
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Is it important to connect the players with the fans through the shirt?
SK: Absolutely. The kit presents the whole personality of the club. The shirt
is very important to the fans and a nice design definitely helps to build a
connection to them.
How did you feel the first time you saw someone wearing a shirt with your
name on the back?
SK: That is probably quite a while ago now, and I don’t remember a specific
situation, but I am sure it was a great moment and it still makes me proud
every time I happen to see it.
Who is your favourite midfielder in world football?
SK: There are so many great footballers out there. I really like to watch the
Champions League and in those matches we normally get to see the best of
the best. Players like Messi, Iniesta or Ronaldo; but there are many great
players that I like to watch playing.
Who was your sporting idol growing up?
SK: It was always Lothar Matthäus, because he really impressed me during the
world cup in 1990, which was the first tournament that I really followed.
Which player do you enjoy having midfield battles against in the
Bundesliga?
SK: There is no-one in particular. I have many good friends in the Bundesliga
and we often get to play against each other, but in a match situation
everybody wants to play well, so that is what counts. But in general I
neither have a favourite opponent nor do I have someone that I would like
to avoid in particular. As I am rather tall I prefer to not play against
small and agile midfielders.
Are you confident or defending your Bundesliga title?
SK: Of course we have great ambitions for the upcoming season, but looking at
the fact that we have broke quite a few records during the last two years,
I would be arrogant to expect it to continue just like that. In all three
competitions we will do our best to achieve as much as possible.
Who would you say is the best player in the Dortmund squad?
SK: The team.
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Who's got the best tricks in training?
SK: Obviously many players try tricks in training, which they wouldn’t dare to
do in a match situation. Especially Mario Götze or Moritz Leitner often
like to try a few new tricks.
Which player at the club is the comedian who plays practical jokes?
SK: The whole team is a great mix of different characters. Though the younger
players are sometimes more open and easy-going than the more experienced
players in the team. But there are always jokes in the changing rooms, even
from players of which you wouldn’t necessarily expect it.
What can Manchester United fans expect from signing Kagawa?
SK: They really can be looking forward. He is a great player that was important
for us and
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played a really good season. I believe that through his way to
play football he has good chances to build his profile in England very
quickly. We will miss him.
Is the Signal Iduna Park the greatest football stadium you've played in, as
the south stand, die Südtribüne is certainly impressive?
SK: The Südtribüne and also the stadium itself are incredible. It cannot be
compared to all the newer stadiums and with an audience of 83.000 people it
is just one of the kind. And we have best fans in Germany. I am already
looking forward to the new season.
What's the favourite goal you've scored?
SK: As I am not a real striker, there are more other moments that were
important for my career. Of course I remember a few nice ones, but I don’t
have a favourite goal.
Do you have ambitions left to fulfil in your career?
SK: Most importantly I hope to stay fit and healthy. Being a professional
footballer is probably one of the best jobs in the world and as long as I
stay fit, I enjoy it a lot to play for a great club with amazing fans that
still give me goosebumps whenever I walk out onto the pitch.
Would you consider a move to the MLS?
SK: The idea to move to America became more and more popular and it also sounds
attractive to me. Many German players made that move and who knows, maybe
an opportunity pops up for me as well.
SoccerBible was speaking to Sebastian Kehl at the launch event for the new BVB 2012/13 football kits, and don't forget to leave your opinions on Sebastian, Dortmund and PUMA online, on Twitter and on Facebook.