Interview
“I love defending" – An interview with Filippo Mane
Prior to the actual interview, there is an important matter to clarify: two versions of his name, Mané and Mane, are currently used by fans and journalists. So how do you spell the name and how do you actually pronounce it correctly? Filippo said: “I know that some people emphasise the second syllable. But it doesn't have an accent. Mane with the emphasis on the first syllable.” Now that's cleared up, the interview can begin.
How do you assess your performances in the friendlies this pre-season?
“They've been really good. Not just by me, but by the whole team. We've had a few good friendlies and are now awaiting the next game against Juventus on Sunday. Overall, I'm really happy with how things are going and how we're working together, even back when we were still in Dortmund. It's about continuing what we did last season.”
Niko Kovac has praised your uncompromising way of defending. How do you describe your own playing style?
“Like he said, I really am a defender who loves to defend and tries to avoid conceding goals and to keep a clean sheet. That's exactly what a defender should do. So I am very focused on defending.”
How much of the Italian school of defending is in your game?
“I watch all the Italian defenders from the past and present and try to learn something from them: advice, skills that they use, and I want to apply these to my game too.”
You have had to deal with a number of injury setbacks in recent years. How did you cope during that time?
“Sometimes there are negative times, sometimes positive ones. You have to learn from both. You can improve and come back stronger, better and fitter. That was my mentality. When I was out for many months or weeks, my objective was always to come back stronger, faster and better than before and to take something from that negative time that could help me if I were to sustain another injury.”
What do you do in order to be less injury-prone?
“The team here have really helped me a lot, mentally too. I've done a lot of things, a lot of prevention for my muscles and knees. Lots of exercises before and after training help me stay fit.”
You had a successful spell with the U19s, for whom you played in the Youth League. What did you take from that experience?
““I learned a whole a lot in those games because it's not the same as in the league. The intensity is higher, the level of opposition is higher.”
Other former U19 players have already made appearances for the first team. Does that make it even harder for you to wait for your first appearance??
“I'm waiting for my time because I know it will come. I will seize this opportunity with everything I have. But I'm really happy that the other guys have made their Bundesliga debuts because I've known them since we played in the U19s. I know their journey and I'm very happy that they have achieved this objective.”
You're close to the first team and have already been in a Bundesliga squad. What have you learned from this experience?
“I'm very grateful for it and really happy that I can train with many great players who play important matches and are also international players. This allows me to develop my game and learn a lot from them.”
How do the other central defenders help you?
“They have really helped me a lot in my development. Every day in training, I am grateful to them for helping me and giving me advice on what to do and what not to do in different match scenarios.”
What goals do you have for this season?
“I'm superstitious, so I actually don't want to say. But perhaps I'll reveal it if the opportunity arises.”
Interview: Christina Reinke