Interview: Di Santo: "We are fighters!"

Werder striker Franco Di Santo has already celebrated four times this season – most recently against Freiburg, (Photo: nph)
First Team
Thursday, 09.10.2014 / 09:33

As the ball went into the Freiburg goal after 78 minutes last Saturday, Franco Di Santo had already turned the other direction. He celebrated with the Werder fans in the East Curve...

As the ball went into the Freiburg goal after 78 minutes last Saturday, Franco Di Santo had already turned the other direction. He celebrated with the Werder fans in the East Curve with his tongue stuck out. That was followed by the obligatory celebration dance. But referee Knut Kircher ruled offside - no goal for Werder, no three points, no happy end. Di Santo could have been aggravated about the disallowed goal, missing out on the three points and even shooting atop the Bundesliga scorer's list. But he wasn't upset long. Despite the setbacks, the Argentinean remained true to himself in always seeing the positive.

In an interview with WERDER.DE, the 25-year-old talked about his personal development since last season, hard work and his rhythmic celebrations.

WERDER.DE: With four goals and an assist, you are currently Werder's top scorer. How satisfied are you with your performance?
Franco Di Santo: "Of course I am satisfied at the moment with my performance but not for personal reasons but because I can help my team with my goals."

WERDER.DE: After every goal, you start a little dance. What's that about?
Franco Di Santo: (laughs) "It's not one certain dance but just something that I come up with at the moment. It just comes to me, it's not planned. These dances are an expression of my pleasure. I like to dance in life."

WERDER.DE: What's going different for you this season compared to last season?
Franco Di Santo: "Last year I came to the team shortly before the start of the season. Besides, I also got injured at the beginning and had to sit out as well with a red card. I have avoided all that now. I was able to go through the entire preseason and play the first games. That was enormously important for me."

WERDER.DE: That makes it all the more aggravating that things are going well as a team. Last place and no victory. How would you estimate the current situation?
Franco Di Santo: "Personally, I have the feeling that the team has unbelievable potential and the ranking in the table doesn't reflect that. The team has gone through a huge development. In my eyes, it's a knot that we need to break. Then the world looks a lot different because there aren't many points to get to the middle of the table."

WERDER.DE: In a week and a half, the team heads to table leaders Munich. What is the goal there?
Franco Di Santo: "Essentially it's a match of 11 against 11. In football, everything is possible. I am convinced that if we can find our balance and our game, it is difficult for every team to beat us - even for Bayern. I go to the pitch to win and nothing else. That is my nature. I am a fighter. We as a team are fighters!"

WERDER.DE: This Saturday, Argentina take on Brazil. You were part of the extended roster before the World Cup. How much would you like to be part of this classic?
Franco Di Santo: "Of course I would love to be part of it but at the moment I'm not thinking about that at all. I am in Bremen, I am focussed on Werder and anything else would only be an additional reward. A nomination for the national team is always a consequence of good performances with the club. And that's the only thing that counts now."

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