Bilal El Khannouss on playing in the UEFA Champions League, building on FIFA World Cup successes, and his Ballon d’Or favourites
VfB Stuttgart’s Moroccan forward Bilal El Khannouss is eager to kick on in his second season at the club, with the UEFA Champions League bringing a fresh challenge.
Now a full-time member of Stuttgart’s squad after his loan deal from Leicester City was made permament in May, El Khannouss spoke to the Bundesliga about his hopes of carrying the stellar form he enjoyed with Morocco at the FIFA World Cup 2026 forward into the new campaign, his ambitions with Stuttgart in his debut Champions League season, and who he thinks should win the Ballon d’Or.
Bundesliga: By finishing fourth in 2025/26 and qualifying for the Champions League, Stuttgart secured European football for a third time in a row. But it is your first year in the Champions League. How excited are you about playing in this competition?
El Khannouss: "I was very excited because I have never played in the Champions League before. I've played in almost every competition in my young career, but the only one I was missing was the Champions League. I played my first game last Wednesday [against Viking]. So yes, I was very happy with it and I hope we're going to have a great campaign."
Bundesliga: There was a chance you would not be playing in the Champions League this season as an offer came in for you from another club shortly before the deadline. Nevertheless you decided to stay. What were your reasons behind that decision?
El Khannouss: "I'm still young, I'm 22, and I have dreams that I want to keep fighting for until they come true. My dreams are to play for the biggest clubs in the world and I will keep working towards them. I think this is the right place to be, to grow as a player and to make the next step.”
Bundesliga: How did you find the experience of representing Morocco at the World Cup? You started all six of your country's games to reach the quater-finals. Has this given you an extra boost for this season?
El Khannouss: "I really enjoyed it. I think we had a great tournament, even if my feeling was that we could have gone further [...] But playing for Morocco in a World Cup has already given me a boost. It's a crazy feeling. By giving everything for my country on the pitch, I feel I took a huge step in my career. So yes, I've taken that with me and I hope to perform well in the Bundesliga now."
Bundesliga: You played against some big teams and big players at the World Cup as well. Did any of these players strike you as potential Ballon d'Or winners?
El Khannouss: "If I had to give my top three right now, I would say it's between Kylian Mbappé, Fabián Ruiz and Harry Kane."
Bundesliga: On the topic of Harry Kane, how is it facing him and his Bayern Munich teammates in the Bundesliga?
El Khannouss: "He's an outrageously good striker. Not only with the goals he scores, but how he helps the team in the build-up. I love it."
Bundesliga: With the strength Bayern have, how do you see the competition within the Bundesliga?
El Khannouss: "I think it's very competitive but also very offensive. When you look at almost every team - whether they're a newly promoted side or Bayern - everyone is trying to attack. That's what makes the Bundesliga so special. When you play in the Champions League or in the Premier League, it's so different [...] Everyone tries to attack and tries to play beautiful football. I think this is the best environment to be as a young player."
Bundesliga: On the subject of your development, how important has your coach Sebastian Hoeneß been for your career?
El Khannouss: "He was the main reason I came to Stuttgart, to be honest. He has a very offensive style of football which fits my qualities well."
Bundesliga: Next up for you is a Saturday evening clash at home to Borussia Dortmund. How are you approaching this game?
El Khannouss: "I think they're a different team this season. So we have been working this week. We're going to analyse them and then see what the key is to taking three points from this game. But we are very confident."
