Thomas Delaney (Seville): I should lead the team

Dortmund (German: [ˈdɔʁtmʊnt] (listen); Westphalian Reduced German: Düörpm [ˈdyːœɐ̯pm̩]; Latin: Tremonia) is the third-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia after Fragrance and also Düsseldorf, as well as the eighth-largest city of Germany, with a population of 588,250 occupants as of 2021. It is the largest city (by area as well as populace) of the Ruhr, Germany s biggest city location with some 5.1 million occupants, along with the largest city of Westphalia. On the Emscher and Ruhr rivers (tributaries of the Rhine), it depends on the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region and also is thought about the administrative, business, as well as cultural center of the eastern Ruhr. Dortmund is the second-largest city in the Low German language area after Hamburg. Founded around 882, Dortmund came to be an Imperial Free City. Throughout the 13th to 14th centuries, it was the primary city of the Rhine, Westphalia, as well as the Netherlands Circle of the Hanseatic League. During the Thirty Years War, the city was damaged and also lowered in value up until the beginning of industrialization. The city then became one of Germany s crucial coal, steel and beer centres. Dortmund consequently was among the most greatly bombed cities in Germany during Globe War II. The devastating battle raids of 12 March 1945 destroyed 98% of structures in the inner city center. These bombing raids, with more than 1,110 airplane, hold the record to a single target in Globe Battle II.The region has actually adapted since the collapse of its century-long steel and also coal markets and moved to high-technology biomedical modern technology, micro systems technology, as well as also solutions. Dortmund was identified as a Node city in the Advancement Cities Index released by 2thinknow, ranked amongst the twelve development cities in European Union as well as is one of the most sustainable and digital city in Germany. Other vital markets include retail, recreation and also the visitor economic climate, innovative sectors, as well as logistics. With its central station as well as flight terminal, the third-busiest flight terminal in North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund is a crucial transport junction, specifically for the bordering Ruhr location in addition to Europe (Benelux countries), and also with the largest canal port in Europe it has a link to crucial seaports on the North Sea.Dortmund is residence to lots of cultural and also universities, including the Technical College of Dortmund as well as Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and also Arts, International College of Management and various other academic, social and management facilities with over 49,000 pupils, lots of galleries, such as Gallery Ostwall, Gallery of Art as well as Cultural Background, German Football Museum, along with theaters and also music venues like the Konzerthaus or the Concert Hall of Dortmund. Almost half the municipal territory contains rivers, woodland, agriculture and eco-friendly areas with roomy parks such as Westfalenpark as well as Rombergpark. This stands in a raw comparison with virtually a hundred years of extensive coal mining and steel milling in the past. Borussia Dortmund is one of one of the most successful German football clubs.

Just in time for the minute, Thomas Delaney appears in the digital conference room to talk to the club about the upcoming Champions League guest match of his new club FC Sevilla at VfL Wolfsburg (21 clock, live! At club). Here in Spain, the clocks tick something different, says the 30-year-old Dane, who now played four and a half years for Bremen and Dortmund, but the German punctuality I have preserved so far. In German, the midfielder betrays, which is why he left the BVB towards Seville, which he has learned from the EM weeks in the summer and what he does, his ex-club Dortmund should win a title this season.

Thomas Delaney, we want to start directly with the unpleasant part ...

Do you mean my yellow-red card? (laughs)

Yes! Last Saturday they cashed twice twice as they foul, mecken and then applauded the referee. After 65 minutes and at the stand of 1: 0 for your team against Espanyol Barcelona, ​​it went prematurely for showering.

Yes, that was my mistake and he still annoys me. I was too emotional at this moment. I saw the rest of the game on TV and could not sit still in the cabin. That was pure stress. Only after the second goal I could calm down something. After the game (Seville won 2: 0, note d. Red.) I thanked my fellow players and apologizes. Because through the red card it became unnecessarily difficult for us.

Mahmoud Dahoud, her former team of players at BVB, almost simultaneously passed something similar.

Yes, that was a funny coincidence. But as I said, that really annoyes me that something has happened to me. That was completely unnecessary.

The game against Espanyol was first fifth for Seville. They only switched from BVB to Andalusia shortly before transfer. Why did your choice just fell on this club?

When we played with the BVB in the past season against Seville, I realized that this is a very good team. That has given the rash now. Seville is a top team in Spain, which has ambitions and plays internationally. Both were extremely important to me. In addition, the city is really cool and the weather is usually very good. This helps too. (laughs)

They were previously three years at the BVB and have passed very emotionally from Dortmund. How hard did you fell away?

That s what awake me, because I was not dissatisfied in Dortmund. On the contrary. Neither personally in the city still within the team. The BVB is a horny club and it makes me proud that I was allowed to play for him for three years. In the end, little things have given the rash: I could refrain that I would not play the biggest role sporty. But I m 30 years old - I wanted to play more than it looked at the plans of the club for me. That s why I wanted to change.

How did the club found this idea?

Not so good, I believe. But they still have given me the opportunity. That most of them found it pity that I go, for me was also a nice sign of appreciation. I will always remember this club.

A farewell to full ranks remained fails to give you once ...

I have with Sebastian (Kehl, head of the license player department of the BVB, Note d. Red.) Talked to at least three times on the day of my change, how to shame the find. It hurts, one and a half years to give up a full stadium. Because I know how great the feeling is to play 81,000 people and to celebrate victories. That this was not possible to say goodbye, me still hurts me.

Are you looking for the development of the BVB?

Yes, I always look at the highlights of the games. Even after Bremen, I also often look, even if no one plays there, which I still know from my Werder time.

What are you trusting your earlier players in Dortmund?

I keep my fingers crossed and hope that it works in the near future time with the championship - even if the FC Bayern is again the favorite this season. Dortmund has a lot of great people on board, I can not worry about this club and people say there. I would be huge when there is something to celebrate for you at the end of the season. Maybe then I ll come to Borsigplatz and do with when it fits in time. (laughs)

How often are you addressed in Spain on Erling Haaland?

Often, Erl is very interested in people here. But I am also often asked for Jew Bellingham, who has left in the games against Seville powerful impression. He raises his heart in the place, which pleases the people here.

On Wednesday you return to Germany for the first time since your change. In the Champions League you are demanded at the VfL Wolfsburg. Has your coach Jull Lopetegui already tapped her insider knowledge about German football?

No, so far that has not happened yet. After the game against Espanyol we had once free. But maybe he still brings that until the kick-off.

At the start of the premier class, there was a draw against Salzburg for you. How big is the pressure before the game in Wolfsburg?

The game against Salzburg was certainly not easy for us, also because we also checked a red card there. In Germany it is also difficult. Wolfsburg is not known in Spain as FC Bayern or Dortmund. But they have a very good team with high individual quality and good breadth in the squad. You will face challenges, we must be prepared for that.

Wolfsburg is trained by Mark Van Bommel. He was an aggressive leader as a player like you.

As a game type, I am certainly quite similar, that s right. We carry both madness in us on the square. But the good ... (laughs) My role models at that time were other: Gennaro Gattuso, for example, or Andrea Pirlo.

Maximilian Arnold can make a goal for 40 meters

Van Bommel applied after the change mistake in the DFB Cup against Münster as the first candidate for a throw-out. This is followed by a strong league start.

Wolfsburg also has quality - and for years. Woodwhorst alone is a challenge for every team in the world. Also the midfield is top occupied, Maximilian Arnold, for example, can also make a gate from free kick from 40 meters. In any case, we have always done ourselves against you with Dortmund, even if we have often won. For me, they are a typical German team. You do not have a top star, but overall a high level in the squad.

Seville was considered Europe League specialist in recent years. Some of a mocket, Seville would only play in the Champions League to continue later as a group-writer in the Europa League ...

(laughs) Title to win is not so bad - and how hard it is to win the Champions League, I do not have to emphasize, I believe. My impression is that people here are very proud of that Seville could win these titles in the Europa League. Especially there not only the masters from Denmark and Sweden combine, but also really big teams. But of course, the claim we ask for ourselves that we survive the group stage in the Champions League.

How hard was it for you due to the late entry at Seville to find your place in the team?

First of all, I realized that Seville is a very Spanish club. Here Spanish is spoken, so I urgently have to work on my language skills - even if the most important things in English translate. I feel very welcome here. I was well received by the team. And we have already found a house. That s very important to me to make me comfortable. I am no one who likes to live in the hotel.

In Seville they met the ex-Schalke Ivan Rakitic. Did you have to get involved a saying for your Dortmund s past?

(laughs) no, not that. But I have actually seen two, three Schalke jerseys with his name on the back in the audience for our game against Espanyol. Dortmund jerseys with my name on it were not yet there. I still have to work on that ...

In Dortmund, they have said the beautiful sentence, they would sometimes feel like a dog owner who walks with ten puppies on a leash. In Seville your task should be another.

Yes, our average age is significantly higher than in Dortmund. Especially our leaders - such as Rakitic or Jesus Navas - are well over 30. Of course, this differs my role, but also here is expected by me that I lead the team, since I came from a big club to Seville. I think you got me as Leader. And I would like to meet that.

In Germany, FC Seville does not have the best reputation because he has often ruled out in the last duels - for example against the BVB - often than through time games and nods. Is that fair to the club?

No, I do not think so. I take Seville as a very family club true, which is not so unlike BVB. Here many work from the region work, people give everything for the club. And sporty is also highly valued here - even if the Spanish footballer is more slower than in Germany. At the same time, the ambitions are also very big. Our fans expect we to play good football and win games.

Despite the foremployment of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and the FC Barcelona?

Yes, because of course, these three usually make the titles among themselves, but the situation is more open than, for example, in Germany, where FC Bayern clearly is number 1. Seville has already shown in the past that it can be at the top. And we also pursue this goal again when I look at our transfers and the width of our squad.

I want to play Title and be there in the Champions League

Also for you is the competition in the central midfield big.

That s right, but my role here is different than in Dortmund, where I usually was the six. In Seville I am - similar to the national team - a little further in front. I can participate as a eighth at the offensive play and go wide paths - the way I love.

You have signed for four years - I conclude that you want to settle with your family for a long time in Andalusia.

Yes, I hope that I will have many good years here. The claims that the club has to fit my ambitions. I want to play by Title and be there in the Champions League. For this, the conditions here are very good. And I also feel that I can develop here despite my 30 years in my game.

Many had actually expected that they would leave Dortmund towards England.

I think these expectations were based on an old story, which still came from Bremer times. At that time, FC Everton liked to commit me and in the course of which I said that I would like to play in England, but also in the US or Japan. Only: Everything will not be possible. I then later switched to BVB because it was the right step for me at this time. Just as it was right to go to Seville.

You can quietly admit that you only plan your steps only afterwards where Ludwig Augustinsson plays. They are already the third time in Seville.

(laughs) That s right. But in Copenhagen then I was first. Likewise in Bremen, even if we sat first in the same plane to Bremen. The fact that we are now put up in Seville again, is really cool.

They had an extreme intense summer: the EM - with the drama around Christian Eriksen and the scarce semi-final-out against England - changing: Have you already had time to reflect everything?

Good question ... There was a lot together damn. But I think I was able to work up that quite well. After that happened to Christian in Copenhagen, we all could not think of football at first. I think every one of us would expect that we would lose the following game against Belgium 0: 6 because our head was simply somewhere else. But after the group stage that had changed - Christian went better, it returned normality again. From then on, the focus was on athletic again.

Do you have from these weeks at the euro, where sorry and Freud were so close together, learned something for your career? Or even something for life?

On a situation, as she happened to us then, you can not prepare. We certainly have come together very much and have learned to handle more honest. In football, there is often this attitude, one must be hard and strong and should not show weakness in any case. At that time we were open in the group open how hard we fell to play again. The whole world looked at us - and we showed you our emotions. The wall, which one as a sportsman, who is in the public, often built around himself, had fallen. I felt then that such an em, of course, is something big, but not everything. Life is so much more. My daughter teaches me every day.

Do you feel that you and your teammates have contributed by their public handling with their emotions a bit that mental health is socially stronger in view?

I hope so. I think, especially after this Corona pandemic, many people have the need to talk about how they passed at this time. Many were alone, had worried. There is no footballers otherwise but other people, even if we earn very well. We race and fight and storm in front of audience about the place, but sometimes we have problems that you have to talk to process them.