“I invest a lot”: Summer challenger Gregor Kobel wants to join the Nati goal

Gregor Kobel, on a scale of 1 to 10. How patient are you?
This cannot be expressed in numbers, it depends on the situation. As a private individual and as an athlete.

What I’m getting at is: how difficult is it for you to wait for the opportunity to become a regular goalkeeper for the Nati?
As a professional you want to be on the field every match. If that weren’t the case, I’d be in the wrong job. This attitude has gotten me to where I am in my career. The most important thing is that I focus on what I can influence: working hard in training every day and showing my best side in the matches with Dortmund and the national team. Everything else is determined by others.

There are voices saying that the time has already come for the changing of the guard.
I believe in my strengths, I need this self-confidence. Everything else is out of my hands. This is also part of top sport.

Do you feel ready for the role of Nati’s regular goalkeeper?
I have invested a lot in my career from the start and have proven myself at a high level for several years. This question doesn’t occur to me.

According to Nati goalkeeper coach Patrick Foletti, she will become a mother Nature decide when the era of summer ends. And a challenger must grow into the role. Agreed?
You have to progress into roles in many areas, not just in the national team, you also have to earn a permanent place within the club. The talent, further development and performance are very important, the experience also has something to do with you.

Do you understand that you are not (yet) the number 1 of the national team?
Wherever I am, the desire and desire to play is always there. If I was content to sit on the bench for the next five years, I would have to ask myself: am I still right? Do I still have the urge to exercise?

How do you deal with Yann Sommer?
Good.

Is it difficult to have a good relationship with your competitor?
Not at all. Respect for each other is part of it. I treat every teammate the way I want to be treated. On the field we are competitors and we push each other, off the field we are very relaxed with each other.

Contrary to expectations, the national team has to worry about the European Championship ticket before the last qualifying matches. Are you concerned?
I think everyone knows what’s at stake. It will be an extremely important meeting. Anything other than direct qualification for the European Championship would be a big disappointment.

Why is the national team having such a hard time?
It’s not all bad. We were clearly the better team in all the games, but we didn’t score the goals we needed. This is dangerous. You must continue until the end.

Is it justified or arrogant to expect Switzerland to win ten out of ten qualifying matches?
It would be arrogant to say that we can beat them all with our left hand. In short, as the Swiss national team you can expect a victory against all group opponents. I am a friend of high standards.

Speaking of which: Borussia Dortmund also started the season with high expectations. Last weekend we lost 4-0 in the home game against Bayern Munich. As an ambitious guy, that must have really bothered you.
Extreme! That was a brutal defeat. And in this case, unfortunately, it deserved it.

Does the 4-0 win reflect the differences between Bayern and BVB?
In this game, yes. We will see after the season whether that is the case in general.

How do you personally deal with such a slap in the face?
Even though it sounds stupid, the good thing is that three days later we had the important game against Newcastle, so we had to focus on that straight away. It was about survival in the Champions League and big money for the club. We were able to make up for something with the 2-0 victory.

The gap with the top of the rankings is already seven points. Is the only positive thing about the fact that the leader is not Bayern, but Leverkusen?
I don’t care who’s up there. But of course: Leverkusen won nine out of ten games, which is an incredible figure. It is good for the Bundesliga that it is not alone at the front and that several teams are involved. The density is brutal: we have only lost once and are still seven points behind.

Has BVB’s championship journey already begun?
No. We have worked our way out of worse situations. Running after the competition is never fun, unfortunately that has been the case in recent years. It’s difficult, but we have to accept the situation.

Rejected in the Bundesliga, but leaders in the Champions League in group F dead with PSG, Milan and Newcastle. Why the inconsistency?
Objection! The ups and downs have been a big problem over the years, but we have made tremendous progress. Since the beginning of 2023, virtually no team in the top leagues has scored more points than us. We lost two games this season – against Bayern and in Paris. This record is very good, there are simply teams that do even better.

In the summer you were promoted to vice-captain at BVB. Has your role in the team changed as a result?
Maybe a little bit. However, it hasn’t changed me as a person. Whether I wear the sanitary pad or not: I never pretend.

They are considered speakers. Have you always been like this?
By nature, I have always tried to take responsibility. That is what the job as a goalkeeper entails. But when you enter the dressing room for the first time as a 19-year-old and spit out big words, you are initially looked at strangely…

Statistically, you were the best Bundesliga goalkeeper last season. Can Manuel Neuer take this title away from you after his comeback?
We will see. I am very happy for Manuel that he is back.

Did you expect the comeback after his broken leg?
I hoped so! It would be a shame if a player with such a great career had to stop due to an injury. He deserves to go through the big door.

In Germany, the rumors that you will be Neuer’s successor in Bayern’s goal are persistent.
I recently extended my contract with BVB for five years. That answers the question.

Change of topic: What motivated you to become a Laureus ambassador?
I’m at a point in my life where I want to give back. Laureus helps underprivileged children to play sports and gain self-confidence. I like that. Even though I am now part of the professional sports machine, I still experience that sports connect different religions and cultures and help people find friends every day.

What projects do you have in mind for Laureus?
Recently I met kids from a Laureus sports program in Dortmund, chatted with them and played a little football. That was fun. I want to be present in Germany and Switzerland, where I live, to take on projects and also have direct contact with the children. I think it is important to draw attention to this topic and work on solutions to problems.

What role did sports play in your youth?
The biggest (laughs)! Tennis, skiing, snowboarding, everything got me excited, not just football. The desire is still there today, but unfortunately I have to give it up given our busy schedule.

How do you quit football?
I do a lot of things with my girlfriend, we walk the dog or eat. And I read a lot and keep my brain busy. For example, I’m bad at chess, but I still do it over and over again (laughs).