Marco Fabian on Chicharito, Mexican fans and life in the Bundesliga
A bona-fide star in his homeland Mexico, Marco Fabian has been in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt since last winter. bundesliga.com caught up with him ahead of Frankfurt’s home game with Bayer 04 Leverkusen and a clash with his international teammate Javier 'Chicharito’' Hernandez.
bundesliga.com: Marco Fabian, on Saturday your Eintracht Frankfurt side welcome Bayer Leverkusen and your compatriot Chicharito. Are the two of you in regular contact?
Marco Fabian: I have a special relationship with Chicharito. He’s not just one of my friends, but rather my best friend and we talk regularly. In fact, Chicharito is like a brother to me. We grew up together, we played in the same team growing up and we've made many appearances together for the Mexican national side. And now fate has drawn us both to Germany and the Bundesliga. Now that he's recovered from his hand injury, it would be amazing if we could face each other as opponents for the first time in our career on Saturday.
Watch: bundesliga.com sat down Fabian and Chhicharito for a Skype call last season. The results were amusing...
bundesliga.com: Let’s talk about the differences between the Bundesliga and the Mexico’s Liga MX…
Fabian: Everything is so well organised in the Bundesliga and the clubs all have a fantastic infrastructure. That alone would make the Bundesliga one of the best leagues in the world. And the style of play also makes the Bundesliga a top league. The physical element is of the highest level and at the same time, the players are all extremely skilful. The Mexican league is not as physical as the Bundesliga, but our players are all so well schooled that I am convinced that many more Mexican players have what it takes to succeed in the Bundesliga.
Click here to download the free, official Bundesliga App!
bundesliga.com: What do you think about when you hear the names Javier Hernandez, Pavel Pardo, Ricardo Osorio or Aaron Galindo?
Fabian: They're all players who have left their mark on the Bundesliga or still play here, like Chicharito. Pavel Pardo and Ricardo Osorio played a major role in VfB Stuttgart’s 2007 title-winning campaign, and Aaron Galindo was the first Mexican to play for Eintracht Frankfurt. When I hear these names, it gives me extra motivation to belong to that illustrious list one day. These players are proof of what I said earlier, that the difference between the Mexican league and the Bundesliga is not so great that Mexicans can’t play their part in the Bundesliga.
Want more Bundesliga Action?
bundesliga.com: Which recent events made you feel glad to be playing here in the Bundesliga?
Fabian: I have felt at home in the Bundesliga and at Eintracht right from day one. I knew there would be a settling-in period and that I'd need a bit of time to really arrive in Germany and the Bundesliga. I think that process was complete midway through the second half of last season. I had really taken on board the demands of the Bundesliga and the team knew what they could expect from me. The coach and my team-mates know they can rely on me to perform at any time. The new season has only just begun and I'll do everything I can in the next few months to establish myself in the starting line-up.
bundesliga.com: How do you feel when you see Mexican fans waving Mexican flags in German stadia?
Fabian: It makes me very happy. It shows that I haven't been forgotten playing abroad and that my compatriots support me all over the world. That can be through their presence at matches or on social media, where many, many fans follow my career. All that gives me even more motivation and I try to push myself even further.
bundesliga.com: What do you say to the Mexican fans you meet?
Fabian: It’s rare that I meet Mexican fans in person on the street. But I’m in regular contact with my fans on social media and always thank them for thinking about me and showing me how keenly they follow my life and career.