Augsburg's Hennes Behrens on facing Michael Olise, making his Germany debut and more!
Augsburg left-back and newly minted Germany international Hennes Behrens says he is "looking forward to facing Michael Olise" on Saturday as the Bundesliga resumes after the international on Matchday 5.
We caught up with the 21-year-old, who moved to Augsburg from Heidenheim over the summer, and talked about facing Bayern Munich, making his senior international debut, and much more besides...
Bundesliga: Hennes, it's your first season in Augsburg. How have you settled in? Has anything perhaps surprised you here?
Behrens: “So far, everything's really going very well, actually better than I could have imagined because I feel really comfortable in the team. We have great characters, great people in the team.
“I think that's really important, that you feel comfortable outside of football as well, because then you can bring that performance back onto the pitch. I've settled in really well, I've been welcomed really well by everyone, and we also sometimes do something together after training.”
Watch: Behrens' Bundesliga best bits
Bundesliga: Augsburg have been impressive so far this season. What would you say that is down to, and where do you think you could perhaps still improve?
Behrens: “I think that we're just a close-knit team. We all get along really well and then bring that onto the pitch. We all defend together, and also enjoy it when we can play with the ball and play forward.
"There's always room for improvement, especially at the beginning, so theoretically we could have had an even better start to the season, but I think that's something that develops normally from game to game.”
Bundesliga: Room for improvement is a good keyword. You are still very young, so where do you still have room for improvement?
Behrens: “Personally, I don't think that there is any particular area that I have to develop. Maybe my top speed, but generally I think you can improve everywhere. Perhaps be a little more consistent.
“Not lose so many balls, because sometimes I also play with a lot of risk, which of course I really enjoy. But perhaps I can play a little clearer, a little more maturely. But we're working on that here in Augsburg with our coaches, so we'll definitely get that done.”
Bundesliga: A week ago you made your debut for the national team. How has everything developed for you since then? How does it feel, what has happened since then, apart from the fact that you have to give interviews?
Behrens: “Ofcourse, there's much more attention now. There's a little bit more presence, and it's also nice that it's still being talked about in the dressing room. But things continue normally at the club. You have normal training again, there was already friendly match too.”
Bundesliga: How did coming on feel for you? Were you very nervous?
Behrens: “It happened relatively quickly, so I didn't really have time to get nervous. I got given a couple of details about what I should do, that I should put pressure on, bring energy. And then everything happened very quickly, I think I was involved straight away, so there wasn't really that much time to think. But I really enjoyed it and it made me want more.”
Bundesliga: There has now been a lot of talk about Jürgen Klopp around the national team. How did you experience the aura of Klopp? What kind of person is he and how did you perceive him as a coach?
Behrens: “He's a total people person. No matter who you talk to about him, everyone really has a similar picture. He really just builds a relationship with everyone, regardless of whether it's a player in the first team, in the second team or perhaps further down, really with everyone so that you really trust him blindly. And it was really special when you talk to him, when you simply see him, because he's such a huge personality.”
Bundesliga: Klopp is said to be very tactically focused, much like your club coach Manuel Baum. Did you know that he used to be a goalkeeper himself? Were you aware of that, and can you notice that in any way on the training pitch?
Behrens: “No, you don't notice it on the training pitch, but I found out relatively early on after someone mentioned it in the team. At first I couldn't really believe it because he perhaps does not have the typical goalkeeper build. But I think if you've played football yourself at some point, you always have a pretty good eye for it. You look at it differently and of course it helps.”
Watch: Baum's Augsburg revolution ready for Bayern test
Bundesliga: You have a big game coming up against Bayern. Have your teammates told you about last season's win, or have you perhaps already watched it? And generally, can you feel the anticipation ahead of the match?
Behrens: “I mean, playing against Bayern, I think everyone looks forward to it because it's always the top game, and playing against the best in the world is really something special. And last year it worked well. I was told that we tend to always play quite well against Bayern, so we're all really looking forward to it and hope that we can win again.”
Bundesliga: You will probably line up against Michael Olise, who is one of the best players in the world at the moment. How do you approach that?
Behrens: “I'm just really looking forward to it. I played against him last year with Heidenheim and it was a lot of fun, even though you could see that he's extremely good. So it's not really that you're afraid or somehow hold yourself back a little. I think it's more that you're a little more motivated and simply look forward to playing against him.”
Bundesliga: How much is the game from last season a topic in the dressing room?
Behrens: “I wouldn't say that it's something we talk about, but I think of course it gives you confidence when everyone knows that you've already beaten Bayern.”
Bundesliga: Have you seen the highlights from that game?
Behrens: “Yes. I think that match took place around the time when we played against Bayern in Heidenheim, so I definitely saw it.”
Bundesliga: You played together with Tom Bischof in the Hoffenheim youth academy. Do you still have contact and how have you followed his development?
Behrens: “Yes, we definitely have contact from time to time. We see each other and I was in the stadium just recently at the Germany match where Tom scored. I'm extremely happy for Tom, for the development he's made.
“But he was always unbelievably good, no matter when, whether in the youth teams or at Hoffenheim with the first team. So I just think that he will continue on the same path. He's not finished with his development yet.”
Watch: Highlights of Augsburg's win in Munich
Bundesliga: What is your prediction for the Bayern game? What are you aiming for?
Behrens: “I simply aim to play well, try to defend against Olise, which of course will not always be entirely possible. But that's why I also have the support of my team, and so I'll say 2-1 for us.”
Bundesliga: What do you like doing when you are not on the football pitch? Are there any particular hobbies or routines that you use to switch off?
Behrens: “Everything is really centred around football in my life, but sometimes after training we'll go together with the team, with a few players, and have coffee and play cards. Playing cards is something I really enjoy a lot, especially with friends. But I don't really have a specific hobby besides football.”
Bundesliga: Sport plays a big role in your family. Your sister was a junior world champion in triathlon, your mother was also a professional athlete. To what extent has that shaped you?
Behrens: “We just grew up with it from the beginning. That made it kind of normal, that you really give everything, no matter what area you are in, and perhaps also be more ambitious outside of sport. But because our mother set that example for us, of course we have a different view of sport, I would say.”
