Thuram: “Borussia will always have a special place in my heart”

Although Marcus Thuram was absent from Thursday’s training session due to a slight illness, we managed to catch up with the Frenchman to discuss the upcoming match in Leverkusen, the season so far and his four years at Borussia.

Marcus, you have missed the last three Bundesliga matches due to a torn muscle fibre in your adductor. Will you be available at the weekend?

Thuram: I have had a good period of rehab and I was back on the bench against Dortmund. I’m hoping that I’ll have a good week of training and that I’ll be back in action on Sunday.

You’re travelling to Leverkusen for the final away game of the season. What sort of match are you expecting there?

Thuram: For me, Leverkusen are amongst the best sides in the Bundesliga. It is always tough to win there. We have only won there once in my four years at Gladbach, when we picked up three points in my first season. We will, however, give our all once more to get a result in our final away game of the campaign.

It’ll be a mid-table finish in the Bundesliga this season. How would you assess the overall performance?

Thuram: It has been a season of ups and downs. We have shown some good performances but we have been just as unconvincing in other matches. Despite that, I think the team has improved and shown some development in some areas. That will hopefully help Gladbach to be successful in the future.

Your time at Borussia is drawing to a close after four years. How are your emotions going into the final two games?

Thuram: I just want to enjoy my last two games for Borussia and be able to look back on all the incredible moments I have experienced here.

What moments do you look back on with the most fondness?

Thuram: I actually look back on every home game with fondness because our fans are just crazy, in the positive sense. They always support us, even in the difficult moments and that cannot be taken for granted. It was such a shame that they weren’t able to watch the Champions League matches against the likes of Real Madrid due to the coronavirus restrictions. A particularly special moment was my last-minute winner against Roma in the Europa League, but I don’t want to highlight one goal in particular because every game at BORUSSIA-PARK was special for me.

You joined Borussia in 2019 at the age of 21. You’re now leaving as a France international. How would you assess the four years in Mönchengladbach?

Thuram: The past four years have been fantastic. I came here as a young player and I developed enormously. It was amazing to be able to compete in the Champions League with Borussia and to play my way into the national team through good performances. I owe so much to this club and I’ll never forget what it has done for me. Borussia will always have a special place in my heart.