Evan Ndicka spoke to L’Equipe in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Derby della Capitale with Lazio.
The Giallorossi defender looked back on his career and recounted his relationship with Jose Mourinho.
“Why did I choose the Bundesliga? I was in L2 with Auxerre and Frankfurt offered me a better opportunity. So I went to the Bundesliga without hesitation. It’s an interesting league.”
“There are a lot of people in the stadiums, it’s almost always full from the first to the fourth division. There’s a great football culture and it’s fantastic. And there everything is made available so that you can only think about football, they do everything for the young players.”
“Frankfurt? I was 19. When I arrived I didn’t know anyone, but coach Hütter put me on the pitch without hesitation.”
“Looking back, I think things could have gone differently, but at that age you are super sure of yourself. There was a kind of nonchalance that allowed you to overcome all the obstacles. And I was lucky to have Hütter, he played a fundamental role in my career. And then it is an open championship and, given my qualities, it was perfect for me.”
“Also in Frankfurt there is the best support in all of Germany. I will never forget the victory of the Europa League, an incredible moment experienced together with thousands of fans who accompanied us.”
“Then came the proposal from Roma, it is a big and historic club and with enormous pressure. People recognize you, they get close to you… Here it is very nice, both positively and negatively. You feel the pressure more than anywhere else. Here there is a very widespread football culture. I can’t do almost anything in Rome, given that the people are very passionate. Maybe it is the other side of the coin, but there are so many beautiful things.”
“Mourinho? From the outside it doesn’t seem like it, but Mourinho is a very nice person. He was a great help to me and in less than a year I learned a lot tactically. He also knows how to talk and how to convey determination. He knows everything about all the opponents. He left a mark on me. But he is not the only one in Roma, since I also had De Rossi and now Ranieri.”
“People trust me. In Italy defense is important, after you play in Italy you get a master’s degree in defense. You can play anywhere.”
“The derby with Lazio? Since Ranieri arrived we have made a great comeback. He has changed many things, he was born in Rome, he knows the situation and the city. He is a really good coach. He also has that extra paternal side, he knows how to talk to you. In Rome there is a particular climate: you win 7 games but then you draw 0-0 and the people are not happy. It is a real passion.”
“The derby represents something important. In addition, this year we are very close in the standings, which increases the stakes also in view of the Champions League. In the city you immediately understand when the derby is coming. In the first leg we won 2-0 and it was a difficult match both on and off the pitch.”
“My future? I won’t pretend not to see the offers from abroad, but at Roma I feel respected and I respect the club. I have a three-year contract left and we’ll see later what happens.”
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