Borges Sanches: “I’m really happy to be here”

Yvandro Borges Sanches (18) is the youngest player in the Gladbach squad. The Luxembourg international spoke about his experiences at the training camp in Tegernsee and his role within the side during an interview.

Yvandro, it’s your second time at Borussia’s summer training camp, and your first time coming as an official first-team squad member. How does it feel? 

Yvandro Borges Sanches: I’m feeling really good. Of course, there are differences between this training camp and where we were last year, and it’s my first time here in Tegernsee., but I’ve felt really comfortable, and the team have been really welcoming. 

How do you view your role in the team as a young player? 

Borges Sanches: As a younger member of the squad, you do as you’re told, both on and off the pitch (laughs). I’ve also been warned already that I’m on equipment duty this season, but I’ve got absolutely no issues with that. 

Which players do you get on with best? 

Borges Sanches: I spend a lot of time with the other younger players, but I also get on well with the older lads, and because I can also speak French, I chat a lot with Manu Koné and Marcus Thuram. 

Are there any members of our team who you’d like to learn from? 

Borges Sanches: When you consider that I’m a young player in a squad with Alassane Plea, Marcus Thuram, Lars Stindl, Jonas Hofmann and Breel Embolo, and I have the opportunity to train and play with them, then it’s clear that I’ll try to learn and pick up as much from them as I can in every session. They’re all great players. 

Do you have a footballing idol? 

Borges Sanches: I like watching Neymar, Ousmane Dembélé and Ronaldinho, but for me, the best footballer is Messi.  

What were you hoping for going into the training camp and what are your aims for the rest of pre-season? 

Borges Sanches: I first want to find my place in the team. This squad I’m joining is full of great players and international players. You need to first ease your way in and find your place. Of course, I’d also like to show what I can do. 

Have you received any feedback from head coach Daniel Farke? 

Borges Sanches: Yes, the coach often takes me to the side and tells me what I’m doing well as well as what I could do better. He goes into detail when we chat, which also really helps me. 

Can you give us an example? 

Borges Sanches: For example, the coach thinks I should implement more physicality into my game rather than relying solely on technique. In addition, he told me to keep my concentration after doing one thing well, to avoid making mistakes later. 

You’ve just named two areas of your game which you’d like to improve. Now tell us what makes you stand out as a footballer. 

Borges Sanches: My strengths are my technique and my speed. I love dribbling at players and taking them on in one-on-one situations.  

You became a Luxembourg international last season aged just 17. Did anything change for you after that? 

Borges Sanches: No, it had no influence whatsoever on how people viewed me. And I didn’t act any differently. I’m a quiet and humble person, like a player who’s yet to make it in professional football should be. I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to play and to be able to learn so much from the team. 

What are your goals for the coming season? 

Borges Sanches: I’d like to keep developing as a player, show what I’m capable of in training and hopefully get some game time – that would be super. 

Most of the training sessions here in Tegernsee have lasted longer than two hours. How have you been coping with the physical demands? 

Borges Sanches: Training’s been hard, but also a lot of fun. It was good that we got the odd afternoon off here and there. The area we’re in is beautiful. I wasn’t able to see much of it though, because instead I was chilling out in my room due to being exhausted. 

Did you jump into the lake? 

Borges Sanches: No, it’s too cold for me. (laughs) 

Fans have been watching your training sessions, and you’ve signed a lot of autographs and taken a lot of photos. Does it give you any extra motivation to have the fans there at training? 

Borges Sanches: It’s amazing that so many fans are here. I’ve experienced it before in Mönchengladbach, but it was particularly special here. You can sense the enthusiasm and anticipation among the fans, too. The team spirit is also really good, and I hope that as a team, we can give back to the fans this season.