Ashkan Dejagah has been in top form for Wolfsburg. The striker tells bundesliga.de why he is doing so well and what the Wolves can achieve.
The 21-year-old Ashkan Dejagah is Wolfsburg’s second-best goal-scorer with seven goals, only Brazilian Grafite (nine) has bagged more. Despite that Dejagah keeps his feet firmly on the ground and doesn’t demand a regular place in the first eleven. “I’ll continue to put myself forward in training and hope for a place in the starting line-up”, the youngster tells bundesliga.de.
bundesliga.de: Congratulations on the win over Hannover 96 and your first-ever brace in the Bundesliga. Did you have to buy a round for your team-mates after the match?
Ashkan Dejagah: Thank you very much. My team-mates were glad about my performance, of course, but most of all because we won this important match. But I didn’t have to buy a round.
bundesliga.de: You were involved in all three goals against 96, and you’ve already scored seven this season. Why are you doing so well in Wolfsburg?
Dejagah: I’ve been going through a spell recently when I didn’t play so well. I play up front now, that’s my new task - and it worked well against Hannover 96. I finally wanted to get back on the score-sheet and I’m delighted that I managed it even twice against 96. In doing so I was able to give the fans - who have always supported me - something back.
bundesliga.de: VfL were in the table’s no-man’s-land after the first half of the season, with 20 points. In 2008 Wolfsburg have the best record in the Bundesliga and collected 23 points already. What did Felix Magath to the team in the winter break?
Dejagah: He managed to form the team into a unit and completely integrate the new players. And he made us fit in the training camp, that’s paying off now.
bundesliga.de: You are just two points behind a qualifying spot for a European competition. Your coach says that Europe isn’t a realistic goal. But the UEFA Cup surely is a subject in the dressing room, isn’t it?
Dejagah: I won’t reveal that, of course (laughs). Seriously: It would be great for the fans and the club to play in Europe, of course. But it’s important that we keep our feet on the ground now. If we continue to play as we did lately, we might be rewarded in the end.
bundesliga.de: Your next game is a trip to 1. FC Nürnberg. Is that a manageable task?
Dejagah: Of course. We have won six away games this season and lost only in Karlsruhe in 2008. But still, we will not underestimate 1. FC Nürnberg.
bundesliga.de: What are your personal goals for the rest of the season - taking your goal tally into double figures?
Dejagah: I have scored twice against Hanover, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that regular strikers Grafite and Danijel Ljuboja weren’t available. So it can only be my goal to win a place in the team. I’ll continue to put myself forward in training and hope for a place in the starting line-up
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“Wolves” edge out Hanover
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