Yan Couto speaks about his development at Borussia Dortmund, what he learnt from his father and his aim to make history

The Brazilian right-back, who has made a flying start to the season after joining on a permanent deal in the summer, spoke to bundesliga.com about his beginnings in the game and just what the Klassiker means to him.

bundesliga.com: Did you imagine the start to Dortmund’s season would have been this good?

Yan Couto: “It’s been really good, the team’s been doing really well and we still haven’t lost a game. I think we need to continue as we’re doing. I’m also very happy personally, scoring important goals for the team. It’s a special time for my family too as my daughter’s going to be born soon. It’s very special for me and is what I dream of. I’m really happy with everything that’s happening.”

Watch: Couto and Svensson shining at BVB

bundesliga.com: What is it like to score a goal in the Bundesliga at the Signal Iduna Park?

Couto: “It was very special getting my first goal with the fans and my first goal at home. Getting to celebrate there with the fans and being part of that great energy - you don’t get much better than that. I don’t think I’d ever imagined it in my wildest dreams. Hopefully, I can score more goals now.”

bundesliga.com: What does it mean for you to be able to show the Dortmund fans just what you can do?

Couto: “Obviously last season was a bit tough for me. I don’t think the fans really got to see how I play and how I can help the team. I think lots of people who spoke badly about me are now able to see how good I am, how well I’m playing. That’s what I want to show them - the best of me, helping the team, playing good games. I think I’m doing that right now. Obviously I need to work hard to keep growing, keep improving, but I think I’m doing well this season, that I deserve to show them the best version of me, and I think they’re really happy with me.”

bundesliga.com: What do you know about the Klassiker?

Couto: “It’s always been a difficult but also a great game for the fans, for football and also us players. Obviously we always want to win it, but we also know it’s tough to play against Bayern. We want to beat them to get closer to them in the table. I think it can be a great game. We’re going to work hard to make the fans happy.”

About the players

2

Yan

Couto

Borussia Dortmund

bundesliga.com: There have been some great encounters down the years. What memories do you have of the Klassiker?

Couto: “I watched several Klassikers – obviously the Champions League final but also lots of games in the Bundesliga. I think they were hard-fought games, they’re special for history and Borussia always wants to win. Our club have had some great teams with [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and others. We can make history with our team right now, that’s important for us - to leave our names in history. We’ve got to win a lot of games for that, got to play hard games, work hard and win them. If we do everything right, in 10 to 20 years, people will still be talking about us guys now.”

bundesliga.com: What message do you have for Dortmund supporters in the Americas ahead of the Klassiker?

Couto: “I hope they support us and can celebrate a lot with us. They’ll be watching the match from afar in the Americas, but any support is good for us. Hopefully they get to celebrate a victory with us.”

Watch: Dortmund in Klassiker form 

bundesliga.com: Can you tell us how you started out in football?

Couto: “It was in my hometown in Brazil, in Curitiba. I remember starting to play with my Dad. I’ve seen photos as well, but I remember going to the park there, the Botanical Gardens. We used to go every Sunday, because my Dad worked from Monday to Saturday, so we’d cycle there on Sundays. There’s a field there where you can play, and he made me practise with my left and right foot. It was practice that’s got me here now, because I can use my left foot as well thanks to my dad, because he always helped me, told me that to be a great player you need to be able to use both feet, not just your right. I practised that from a young age, so I owe him a lot of thanks now. Just look at my last goal, which was scored with my left foot! There are lots of things I got for football from my hometown.”

bundesliga.com: Were there any coaches or friends who influenced you in football growing up?

Couto: “My dad was a youth coach.”

bundesliga.com: A tough coach?

Couto: “Yes, very tough. Very tough with me because he knew I was different. I think he also tried to be a footballer but stopped at 16, because my grandpa didn’t let him keep playing because he said he needed to study instead. I think he sort of lived his dream through me, because he saw from a young age how I was different from the others. I think he was tough with me because he wanted me to improve. I remember a game of indoor football where I dribbled past four players and then shot, but he told me I should’ve gone around he goalkeeper again to score. He still helps me now. He’s my go-to person, but obviously I also had coaches who helped me a lot, team-mates as well. There are many who don’t play anymore but who helped me then to get to where I am now.”

Watch: Couto's left-footed beauty against Leipzig

bundesliga.com: Your move to Manchester City after that was a big step, right?

Couto: “It was a huge difference in my life, going from Curitiba. It’s a nice city in Brazil but not like the footballing capital: São Paulo and Rio [de Janeiro] are always better in football. Leaving Curitiba straight for Manchester was a very big step. I obviously had to learn a lot, because it’s a very big change going to a European giant. That’s why I had to go out on loan, because I wanted to play and learn. City were very important in my life because they helped me with lots of things, turning me into a man. I had to move to other countries to play and I think that was important for me. I learned a lot at the clubs I went to on loan, I think it’s made me a more complete player.”

About the clubs

Borussia Dortmund

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