"We always believed in ourselves"
Andrej, TSG have qualified for European competition for the fourth time. How great is the relief?
"It is a big success for us. It was our objective at the beginning of the season and we have achieved it, even if at times it no longer looked that way. The atmosphere was not so good after the defeats, but we managed it and we can celebrate that. It's a great reward for our efforts. After four years, we will finally be playing on the international stage once again."
You claimed a 4-2 victory against FC Bayern Munich on the final matchday and sealed your involvement in international competition on your own merit. How did that feel?
"There were a lot of emotions. We had the situation from last year, when we were battling against relegation, in our minds. We played some super matches in the home stretch and ultimately managed it. We always believed in ourselves. It is crazy to come from 2-0 behind to win 4-2 against Bayern Munich. Plus a hat-trick and an assist from me, I don't know when that's ever happened."
How do you assess your own performances this season? You played a major part in the success by notching 12 scorer points in the home stretch...
"I'm very satisfied and happy that I was able to help the team to achieve our objective of Europe. Things of course went very well in the last matches in particular. The match against Bayern was crazy. I played almost the entirety of this season in midfield. Hardly any midfielder has amassed so many scorer points, I'm of course happy about that. But it's not about me; the focus is on the team."
What do European evenings mean to you?
"It's a special feeling. During midweek, under the floodlights, away games across Europe. What more do you want? That's exactly why we play football and give everything in every training session and in every match. We want to enjoy it and perhaps get a round further too with a bit of luck. We want to test ourselves against the best in the competition."
There was a phase of the season in which you were not always in the starting line-up. How did you deal with that?
"I'm a footballer and I always want to play; I of course didn't like the decision and as an ambitious player I can only understand it to a certain degree. But I'm professional enough to put it into perspective and didn't let my head drop. At the end of the day, it's not about the coach or myself – but rather the club. I love this sport and I want to produce my best performance every day. Whether it's from the bench or in the starting line-up."
This season – similarly to previous seasons – there have been a great many performance fluctuations. How do you explain this constant up and down at TSG?
"The easy answer would be to say that we're playing in the Bundesliga. If you take the best five teams this season out of the equation, almost every match is a 50-50 game. Not only us but also many other teams had these waves. Nonetheless, it is of course not acceptable that we experience such droughts, even if we ultimately had the happy ending of qualifying for Europe. If we look at the big picture, it is our responsibility to put an end to or at least reduce these performance fluctuations."
How can TSG approach the problem in the future?
"We're all different, all individuals. Everyone has discovered for themselves what they need to perform at their best. Some need more training, others need less. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. I'm a player and can't decide everything, that's up to the coaches."
TSG are praised time and time again for the calm environment that allows you to work perfectly. Do you perhaps also see there being a danger of being satisfied too easily?
"It's a blessing and a curse at the same time. We have super conditions here, but sometimes it's perhaps also too pleasant. For us, the club and the region have become our home; we're a family. But that does of course hold some dangers too. Sometimes there's a lack of pressure. You can prove your mentality and character under pressure, I love that. Sometimes there's a lack of that. We can only change the public perception to a certain extent, but it would perhaps help us from time to time if we had more pressure internally."
How can that be changed?
"The club must become even bigger. TSG are in a super position and have the best conditions in place. But such a development takes time. It will be years before the club has developed fully. But in principle, there are hardly any limits."
You're a ambitious person with big goals and you speak about that publicly too. Do you sometimes lack support with that?
"Just because someone doesn't talk big to the outside world, it doesn't mean that they are unambitious. A person can only say that about themselves. I'm very ambitious and always want to achieve the maximum. And I'm also proactive about that."
You know the club like almost no other player and have already played over 250 Bundesliga games for Hoffenheim. Have you already realised what you mean to TSG?
"If it was down to me, there'd be another 250 matches. It feels super to have been able to wear this shirt for eight and a half years, but I'm not finished yet. I need to stay fit and healthy, then a lot is still possible. Either way, it's something special. TSG and I have a special relationship that will last forever."
Can you even imagine a career away from TSG after such a long and successful time?
"I'll soon be 33 years old. My time here will end at some point, even if it will hopefully be a long time yet. But even when my playing career is over, that doesn't mean that we will go separate ways. I want to become a coach one day, perhaps even at TSG. That would be a lovely story."
How long have you been thinking about becoming a coach?
"It's not been that long. Three or four years ago, I would have said that I won't want that under any circumstances. But now it's my big wish. Football is my life and I believe that I have a good understanding of the game and a good feeling for situations. That can help me as a coach."
Would it be a dream for you to return to TSG as coach?
"Definitely. But I believe that you have to have seen something different beforehand. I've already been here for so long, you have to leave your comfort zone at some point. I would like to shadow other coaches before I really start myself. I still need to learn a great deal of course, but I still have time too. And anyway, I'm currently only thinking about my playing career. When I see Luka Modric putting in great performances at Real Madrid at the age of almost 39, that gives me courage."
Which coaches inspire you?
"There are several. Julian Nagelsmann shaped me at TSG, we worked together successfully for three and a half years. It's not without reason that he's currently the national team coach and was previously in Leipzig and Munich. Pep Guardiola is of course among them too; he's one of the best coaches in the world. But I can also imagine it would be very interesting to learn from Carlo Ancelotti. He has a very different approach to the other two but is very successful too."
You still have a few years ahead of you as a player before it gets to that point. The European Championship is coming up in the summer. How great is the excitement for the tournament?
"It's always something special. Especially because the EURO is in Germany. I know every stadium here and feel very comfortable. In addition, there are so many Croats in Germany, our games will be like home games for us. We have had so many successes in the past and we want to build on that."
You have recorded Croatia's biggest successes, finishing in second place at the 2018 World Cup and in third position at the 2022 World Cup. Would you describe your team as a "golden generation"?
"We probably haven't let it all sink in yet. We simply continue to play football and want to be successful. Unfortunately, we haven't yet won a title, but for such a small country like Croatia those are indescribable successes that will remain in the memory for a long time."
You've perhaps been drawn in the most difficult group. How do you see your chances against Italy, Spain and Albania?
"We want to get through. It would be presumptuous to set bigger goals. We need to go full throttle in every game, otherwise we don't have a chance. We're with two of the last three winners. But I believe we're capable of beating any team. We have already proven that on several occasions in the past."
Do you notice that your opponents now play differently against you than before your successes?
"They have a lot more respect for us. As a result, the games are very different to 2018. We could then sit deeper and wait for the counter, now we have the ball significantly more. That doesn't necessarily make it easier, but we can still do it. Even though we don't have as many stars as France, Germany or England. We know what to expect and are ready."
You have played almost 100 international matches for Croatia. Is it a goal of yours to reach this milestone?
"I think for that to happen we'd need to reach the final, so it's a long road. (laughs) But it is of course a special feeling to be able to represent your home country on the biggest stage so frequently. I will try to reach this milestone and to keep playing for Croatia even after the EURO. You never know in football, but my plan is to keep going for a long time yet."