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MKHITARYAN: 'SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT'
Bundesliga - official website
Oct 23 2013
London - Henrikh Mkhitaryan sure played his part as Borussia Dortmund
overcame Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
After opening his European account as a BVB player, Armenia's finest
export spoke to bundesliga.com about the gruelling Group F encounter,
his admiration for matchwinner Robert Lewandowki and the upcoming
Revierderby with Ruhr rivals FC Schalke 04.
bundesliga.com: Mr Mkhitaryan, what did you make of the win in London?
Mkhitaryan: It was a really tough and important game for us. Playing
away against such a strong side wasn't easy, but we dug in as a team
and delivered a great performance. Of course, the result is really
good for us.
bundesliga.com: Describe your opening goal...
Mkhitaryan: I collected [Robert] Lewandowski's short pass. Then I
noticed I had lots of space on the edge of the box. I controlled the
ball and had a pop at goal.
bundesliga.com: It was your first Champions League goal for BVB. It
must feel twice as good, right?
Mkhitaryan: It's not important for me to be able to celebrate my
goal come the final whistle. What's important is that I put in a
reasonable performance on the pitch. My aim is to get better with
every game because I still haven't hit top gear.
bundesliga.com: Is there a difference when head coach Jurgen Klopp
is in the stands and his assistant Zeljko Buvac is in the dugout?
Mkhitaryan: We don't have any problems with that whatsoever. Both
speak the same language. It's a bit unusual if the coach isn't on the
sideline, but it's good for us players when we can feel his presence
in the stadium. We're a big family and everyone knows what they have
to do.
bundesliga.com: Dortmund weren't able to string much together going
forward. Yet in the second half, BVB scored with their only shot
on goal...
Mkhitaryan: Yes, that's what decides these sorts of games. Sometimes
there are just one or two moments like that and you have to be there
to make use of your opponents' mistakes. That's football.
bundesliga.com: For that to happen, teams need players like Robert
Lewandowski...
Mkhitaryan: He is simply magnificent. He was the best against Arsenal.
How he ran, fought and coolly finished for 2-1 was indescribable. For
me, he is one of the best strikers in the world.
bundesliga.com: Napoli, Arsenal and Dortmund are all on six points
in the group. When do you think we'll know who's going to progress?
Mkhitaryan: I think the group will be decided on the final matchday.
We have to raise our game for the next three matches and play better
football. We have to hope we'll pick up a couple more points.
bundesliga.com: The next game is on Saturday against Schalke. Do you
know the significance of the derby?
Mkhitaryan: I was told pretty early what the clash means for the team
and the city as a whole. I'm really excited about the game. It's more
than a derby.
bundesliga.com: Victory over Arsenal was the perfect motivator, right?
Mkhitaryan: Yes, for sure. It's always easy to regenerate after wins,
especially mentally. That'll help us for the derby.
Interview by Michael Reis/ Translation by Christopher Mayer-Lodge
See why Mkhitaryan rates Lewandowski so highly on the official
Bundesliga YouTube channel:
http://www.bundesliga.com/en/cl/news/2013/0000274795.php
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Bundesliga - official website
Oct 23 2013
London - Henrikh Mkhitaryan sure played his part as Borussia Dortmund
overcame Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
After opening his European account as a BVB player, Armenia's finest
export spoke to bundesliga.com about the gruelling Group F encounter,
his admiration for matchwinner Robert Lewandowki and the upcoming
Revierderby with Ruhr rivals FC Schalke 04.
bundesliga.com: Mr Mkhitaryan, what did you make of the win in London?
Mkhitaryan: It was a really tough and important game for us. Playing
away against such a strong side wasn't easy, but we dug in as a team
and delivered a great performance. Of course, the result is really
good for us.
bundesliga.com: Describe your opening goal...
Mkhitaryan: I collected [Robert] Lewandowski's short pass. Then I
noticed I had lots of space on the edge of the box. I controlled the
ball and had a pop at goal.
bundesliga.com: It was your first Champions League goal for BVB. It
must feel twice as good, right?
Mkhitaryan: It's not important for me to be able to celebrate my
goal come the final whistle. What's important is that I put in a
reasonable performance on the pitch. My aim is to get better with
every game because I still haven't hit top gear.
bundesliga.com: Is there a difference when head coach Jurgen Klopp
is in the stands and his assistant Zeljko Buvac is in the dugout?
Mkhitaryan: We don't have any problems with that whatsoever. Both
speak the same language. It's a bit unusual if the coach isn't on the
sideline, but it's good for us players when we can feel his presence
in the stadium. We're a big family and everyone knows what they have
to do.
bundesliga.com: Dortmund weren't able to string much together going
forward. Yet in the second half, BVB scored with their only shot
on goal...
Mkhitaryan: Yes, that's what decides these sorts of games. Sometimes
there are just one or two moments like that and you have to be there
to make use of your opponents' mistakes. That's football.
bundesliga.com: For that to happen, teams need players like Robert
Lewandowski...
Mkhitaryan: He is simply magnificent. He was the best against Arsenal.
How he ran, fought and coolly finished for 2-1 was indescribable. For
me, he is one of the best strikers in the world.
bundesliga.com: Napoli, Arsenal and Dortmund are all on six points
in the group. When do you think we'll know who's going to progress?
Mkhitaryan: I think the group will be decided on the final matchday.
We have to raise our game for the next three matches and play better
football. We have to hope we'll pick up a couple more points.
bundesliga.com: The next game is on Saturday against Schalke. Do you
know the significance of the derby?
Mkhitaryan: I was told pretty early what the clash means for the team
and the city as a whole. I'm really excited about the game. It's more
than a derby.
bundesliga.com: Victory over Arsenal was the perfect motivator, right?
Mkhitaryan: Yes, for sure. It's always easy to regenerate after wins,
especially mentally. That'll help us for the derby.
Interview by Michael Reis/ Translation by Christopher Mayer-Lodge
See why Mkhitaryan rates Lewandowski so highly on the official
Bundesliga YouTube channel:
http://www.bundesliga.com/en/cl/news/2013/0000274795.php
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress