Aubameyang: 'Even closer together as a team'
Dortmund – Having scored the goal that took Borussia Dortmund through to the last four of the DFB Cup at Eintracht Frankfurt's expense last Tuesday, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang followed up with a first-half brace to set BVB on course for a comfortable 4-0 victory over the Eagles in Saturday's Matchday 21 encounter at the Signal Iduna Park.
The summer signing from AS Saint-Etienne is now on 13 goals in the current campaign, just behind clubmate Robert Lewandowski – who also hit the net against Frankfurt – and Hertha Berlin's Adrian Ramos in the race for the individual top scorer's cannon. After the match, he spoke about BVB's return to form after a recent sticky patch and his own newfound defensive capacities.
Question: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, two wins against Eintracht Frankfurt and three goals of your own – what do you make of that?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: It's all going really well at the moment, both for me personally and the team. That's a big plus. The most important thing is to keep winning and at the moment we're doing a good job of that, because we've improved all-round over the past few weeks. If I can contribute to that with a few goals, it makes it all the more enjoyable.
Question: You were scoring in the first half of the season as well but now you seem to be tracking back even more. Have you fully integrated into the Borussia system?
Aubameyang: We've focused intensively on tactics in training over the past few weeks and months. The whole coaching staff have explained a lot of things to try and help further improve my defensive play. It's not just about scoring goals, I need to be able to carry out all the coach's instructions. Obviously I'm getting help from the team with that and I think things are moving in the right direction.
Question: After four wins in five competitive outings, are BVB back on track and ready to try and claim second place again?
Aubameyang: We've certainly come even closer together as a team. With all the injuries we had, December was a particularly difficult time with some damaging defeats. But we've regained our confidence and I think if we carry on in the same vein, things will continue to improve. At the moment, we're very strong up front.
Question: You're hot on Robert Lewandowski's heels on the top scorers' chart. How much does that internal contest motivate you?
Aubameyang: It's nice, but at the end of the day it's not important who scores. It's good to have two in-form goalscorers in the side, because it makes us harder for opponents to get to grips with. I'd be happy for Robert if he finished as top scorer and I was up there somewhere near him. It's an added motivation for me, and for him as well, no doubt.
Question: He said that between the two of you, with 27 goals altogether now, you're probably uncatchable. What do you reckon?
Aubameyang: I think so, too. That would be great.
Markus Hoffmann reporting from Dortmund
