Yann Sommer: There are lots of emotions involved

In an interview, Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer looks ahead to the fixture on Sunday (15:30 CEST) against 1. FC Köln, and reveals which moment from this derby he remembers the best.

Yann, what was perhaps your best performance of the season against Leipzig (3-0) was followed by the most recent game, a 5-1 loss in Bremen. How have you been processing this game?

Yann Sommer:  Processing a loss that big is always going take a little longer. That’s why it was good to actually have a couple of days off and to get away.  Meanwhile, we have been analysing the game well. Now our vigour and positivity is there once more, which is important, especially before a derby.

Now that you mention it: It’s a home derby on Sunday, against  1. FC Köln. What sort of game are you expecting?

Sommer: I am really looking forward to the game. Derbies are always special – for the fans, for us as a team and the whole club. In these games there is a lot of prestige, a lot of emotions involved.  They are normally good games against a side that is currently good form and boasts a lot of individual quality. That’s why we’re going to be working hard before the game, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

What have made Köln stand out this season?

Sommer: Köln are unbelievably active in their game, they really put it a lot. They also have a lot of quality up front. When they have the ball, they can transition quickly. In their most recent games they have had a lot of good moments, and have been successful. They are definitely going to come with a lot of self-confidence, but we will be waiting for them with self-confidence of our own too.

Köln still have to play against Partizan Belgrade in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday evening. Do you think that will play a role come Sunday?

Sommer: I don’t know, we will have to see on Sunday. We are fully focused on the game, and we are just looking forward to this huge clash.

What does this derby mean to you personally?

Sommer: This derby is one of the most important games of the season – you can see that from the table alone. The derby is always of great importance to both sets of fans, both clubs and the players. Again: they are emotional and there’s prestige involved. The two cities themselves aren’t too far from one another, which makes it even. All of that makes a good game – I enjoy such games.

Köln have won all three of the past clashes. What will your side need to do to change that come Sunday?

Sommer: It’s difficult to find a simple answer for that. Either way, it's a fresh derby. We are in a different mood than we were last season. It will be important that we bring our best performance and potential to the pitch, and that we are very alert and active in our game. We just have to play to our strengths, and then we will see how it ends up.

Your personal record against Sunday’s opponents is a positive one: in 14 games, you have seven wins, one draw and six losses. Which derby moment do you remember most fondly?

Sommer: Definitely when Granit Xhaka headed in the winner and ran the way back across the pitch to me (matchday 21, 2014/15 season). For me personally, that is by far the best derby moment.