Ngoumou: “I want to help the team out as much as possible”
Nathan Ngoumou speaks about his time at Gladbach so far, his role in the team and his personal goals.
Nathan, you’re playing in your second Bundesliga campaign. Have you adjusted to playing for Gladbach and in the Bundesliga?
Definitely. You can see it in how much I’ve been playing. I’ve had more opportunities this season, which has given my self-esteem a boost. Obviously, I’m not quite where I’m aiming to be just yet and I want to play even more, but I’m happy for the moment.
You’re a very versatile attacker. You’ve mostly been starting as a left winger this season. Do you think that you can play to the best of your ability when you’re used in that position?
I play wherever I’m needed. It doesn’t make a difference to me whether I’m playing on the left, right or down the middle. I feel comfortable anywhere up front. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how I can best help the side out.
You’re not only one of the fastest players at Gladbach, but also in the Bundesliga. Would you say that your pace is your biggest asset?
I often try to use my speed to my advantage and it’s one of my biggest strengths. I’ve got other skills too, of course, which I’m working to improve.
You won three of your last four games and now have a four game unbeaten run. What would be your explanation for this positive progression?
We just prepared really well for the game and there was a good energy within the team. Every player showed a strong desire to win the match, and if we can channel that into every game, we’ll be in with a chance.
You beat Wolfsburg 4-0 not too long ago, and the media has repeatedly described it as one of your best performances of the season so far. Would you agree with that?
Definitely. In the past few games, we were often leading 3-1 or 2-0, but just couldn’t put the game to bed with another early goal. It was a different story against Wolfsburg. We have to bring this exact quality to the pitch more often.
With the end of the international break, the first half of the season is entering the home straight. What are your personal goals for the rest of the first half of the term and what do you want to achieve as a team?
As a team, we want to pick up as many points as possible. Personally, I’m trying to contribute to the success of our side as much as I can. The best way of doing that is by getting assists and bagging goals, but the most important thing for me is helping the team to successfully tackle the next challenges.
You’ll definitely have a tough test in the upcoming away fixture against Dortmund. What will be the deciding factor in the game?
We’ll have to be focused right from the outset and play with a high level of energy, just like we did against Wolfsburg. If that happens, I’m sure that we’ll be able to pick up points in Dortmund.
