Honorat: “An intense game awaits us”

Franck Honorat spoke to us about the Foals’ current sporting situation, the reverse fixture against Wolfsburg – in which he scored his first league goal for Gladbach – and the challenge the Wolves present.

You’ve been at Borussia for just over six months now. How have you settled in?

Franck Honorat: At the beginning it was tricky because there were a lot of changes. I was arriving in a new country with a different culture – and shortly after moving to Gladbach I became a father for the first time. The footballing culture is different too. But I think I’ve settled in well and I feel comfortable here.

As you mentioned, you became a father in August. How has your life changed since then?

Honorat: I don’t get as much sleep. [laughs] My little one is just starting to get teeth. In the meantime, my wife and I have found a decent rhythm which is getting better and better. A lot depends on organising things properly. I enjoy every day of being a dad.

What has been your best moment on the pitch so far this season?

Honorat: My first goal at BORUSSIA-PARK on Matchday 11 against Wolfsburg. It was a great goal.

You’ve registered three goals and nine assists so far in your first season with the Foals. How satisfied are you with your return?

Honorat: I’m pretty happy with the statistics. I’m happy with how many goals I’ve set up, but I think I should have scored more. I’m also finding that I tend to get better as the game goes on. But I can and I have to continue to improve.

A lot of your assists have come from corners. With eleven goals from corners, Borussia are actually the Bundesliga’s dangerous team in that regard. How come?

Honorat: I think we could have scored even more goals from set pieces. We have good headers. The stats from dead balls are good, but they don’t change where we are in the table – and we’re not happy with that. I’d rather have two or three more wins than be top of that particular statistic.

What do you make of the current sporting situation?

Honorat: It’s not an easy situation for us. When you go out onto the pitch, it’s always about winning, scoring as many goals as you can and conceding as few as you can. The fans are disappointed with how the season’s going and so are we. We’re continuing to work with the aim of ending the season on a high note.

What are your personal aims for the rest of the season?

Honorat: I want to help the team as much as possible, whether that’s through an important pass or a goal. I want to give everything both defensively and offensively in order to contribute to us picking up as many wins as possible.

The next opponents are VfL Wolfsburg. What are you expecting from this game?

Honorat: I think it’ll be an intriguing and intense game. We’ve already played them twice this season and won both times. Playing away is different though. I’m expecting a lot of individual battles, aggression and intensity.

What will the team need to do in this game?

Honorat: We firstly have to defend well, and then we have to attack. We have to be alert and contest the individual battles well in order to get a good result.