Christian Pulisic: “Borussia Dortmund can bounce right back!”
USA starlet Christian Pulisic knows a thing or two about Borussia Dortmund’s Klassiker rivalry with Bayern Munich. At the tender age of 19, the attacking midfielder has already featured in four games against the record champions, winning twice, and opened the scoring in the narrow Supercup defeat in August.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash between two of Germany’s footballing juggernauts, bundesliga.com sat down with Pulisic to get his thoughts on the game, BVB’s recent form, and what he makes of Bayern star Arjen Robben…
Christian Pulisic on…
…the atmosphere around the Klassiker
“It has that feeling, you know, the Klassiker! The game always has that extra meaning to it. When you play against Bayern it’s one of your rivals, and you want a good result, so yeah, it definitely has that special feeling.”
Watch: Bayern are in for a big reception at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park!
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…Dortmund’s recent form
“I think after we had the amazing start, with, I don’t how many games we won and no goals against [BVB won six of their first seven games this season, and didn’t conceded until the 6-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 6], it’s hard to expect that for the whole season. So there’s going to be tough times, and right now is a tough time, but I believe in our team and I think that we can bounce right back.”
...the difference between the Bundesliga and other big leagues
“Obviously, I’ve only played in the Bundesliga. I think the Bundesliga is a great league, that gives chances even to younger players to excel and I just think the competition every week is so good. That’s all I really know. It’s a great league for me especially.”
…trying to overhaul Bayern Munich
“It’s always exciting, every year. Obviously the last year has been tough, Bayern has been playing well the past few seasons, but we’re going to continue to give our best.”
…on derbies in the Bundesliga
“I think every week you have a really good game, and it’s never going to be easy, whether you play against the second-placed team or the last-placed team. You have to fight every week, and people see that and that is why the league is so admired globally.”
Watch: Robben starred in the corresponding fixture last season
…on Arjen Robben
“I mean, he’s an unbelievable player, a player I’ve watched from when I was very young and a player that I’d like to model myself after. I think he has a lot of great qualities that I can learn from. A good professional, all round, with a great career.”
…on Robben’s signature move
“You know, in basketball you often say ‘good defence, better offence’. Sometimes when something is too good, it can’t be defended. That’s how it is sometimes.”