Andrej Kramaric: "Robert Lewandowski's the best striker in the world"
In this week's bundesliga.com interview of the week, Hoffenheim forward Andrej Kramaric discusses his side's first half of the season, explains how they must improve and says that Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the world's best footballers.
bundesliga.com: You only played eight games in the first half of the season due to a knee injury. How’s your fitness now?
Andrej Kramaric: I didn’t start the season how I wanted. I had those problems with my knee but I feel good now. I feel it a little bit at times but that’s normal after the operation. I’m hoping I stay fit because I know what I can do when I’m 100 per cent fit. I believe I can achieve more.
bundesliga.com: How do you rate the first half of the season with a new coach, new playing system and a few new additions to the squad?
Kramaric: It’s been interesting to watch some of the games. Hoffenheim haven’t played as well as we’re used to over the last three years. There's been a big contrast between certain games. We beat Bayern and Dortmund but lost some easier games at home. It’s hard to predict how the season's going to finish. We have to improve – that’s obvious. We need to play better football to be able to win more.
bundesliga.com: What has been different for you and the team with the change of coach from Julian Nagelsmann to Alfred Schreuder?
Kramaric: The difference between them isn’t so big. They were together for four or five years. The main difference is that we maybe play a bit more defensively under Alfred but I would say both of them want to play offensively. We are trying to show that but we have to be honest. We started the season after losing five or six players and you notice that on the pitch. I was also injured, [Ishak] Belfodil was injured. That’s maybe seven or eight first-team players from last season who were missing. That’s not just hard for the team but for the coach as well.
bundesliga.com: Hoffenheim have beaten Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund but lost five home games including matches against teams lower down the table. How do you explain this inconsistency?
Kramaric: We showed that we can play great football and beat much better teams than us with quality players. Football changes quickly though and we have to play like this every week – not just against Bayern and Dortmund. We lost some home games which we needed to win. That’s the only way to improve. You can’t expect us to win against Bayern and Dortmund all the time so we have to win some other games.
bundesliga.com: What are your thoughts about Hoffenheim’s trip to Bremen and meeting up with Leo Bittencourt and Kevin Vogt?
Kramaric: It’s been a tough season for Bremen as well. I didn’t expect them to be playing like this. Leo and Kevin are great players and great people. Football changes quickly. They were here in the starting 11 – now they're there. It’s going to be interesting. They have to change something because they didn’t start the season very well and they need to improve if they want to stay up. They've got a lot of quality, enough quality players. It’s going to be an interesting game. I like playing in Bremen. There's a good atmosphere, good fans, a good stadium, and I’m going to do my best with my teammates to win the game.
Watch: Kramaric, Hoffenheim's all-time record goalscorer
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bundesliga.com: Which player did you look up to when you were younger?
Kramaric: When I was a child, [Davor] Suker and Ronaldinho were the two players who were magic for me. When you talk about the best players in the world though, it's [Lionel] Messi, no doubt. It’s incredible what he's done, and is still doing. He’s at the age now where he can’t repeat some of the things he could do when he was younger. But it’s never boring to watch him.
bundesliga.com: Who’s the best striker in the Bundesliga in your opinion?
Kramaric: Lewandowski, for me. He’s the best striker in the world at the moment. He has everything: speed, technique, reading of the game, finishing. I think he’s a great example of a striker and will remain so in the future.
bundesliga.com: What in your opinion is required to be a complete, modern striker in the Bundesliga?
Kramaric: Ninety per cent of teams try to play pressing football now so if you don’t run, you can’t press. When you’re pressing, everything starts with the striker. Without being able to run you can’t help your teammates and, in turn, they then can’t help you score goals. In the end though, you know how it is with strikers – you’re only concerned about the goals.
bundesliga.com: Where’s your best position in attack?
Kramaric: I’ve been asked this a lot. It’s hard to explain, though. I’m probably somewhere between a number nine and a number ten. Maybe more of a number ten, though, because I like to have the ball in space, to attack the spaces and drop in between the lines. I like to come from the second line to score. Maybe more of a ten than a nine.
bundesliga.com: Who’s the best striker of all time in your opinion?
Kramaric: The older Ronaldo because of his physical power, all his attributes. He was unlucky to be injured so often. Maybe now we are seeing someone similar with [Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian] Mbappé.”
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