Two armchairs at “Home Ground”, overlooking the training ground, provide the backdrop for the interview. Rayan Philippe takes a seat in one of them. Although he has already completed four training sessions at this stage – in the fifth week of pre-season – he doesn’t slump into the chair but sits upright on the front edge of the seat. The 25-year-old Frenchman has contributed one goal and one assist in the friendly matches against 1. FC Heidenheim (3–1) and Everton FC (1–2), and has also been making an active impression in training. Speaking to HSV.de, Philippe reflects on his form, the lessons learnt from last season, defending as an attacker and his goals for the new season.
HSV.de: Rayan, Herzogenaurach is the third training camp of the pre-season. How are you feeling?
Rayan Philippe: I just feel great. I made the necessary arrangements before pre-season began, whilst I was still on holiday in the south of France. When I’m out on the pitch, I feel good. By that I don’t just mean physically, because I’m not feeling any aches or pains, but mentally as well. I hope this feeling continues.
You really show a connection with your teammates, especially in the friendlies.
In our system, we have a lot of players operating in central areas. The advantage of this is that we can link up quickly in tight spaces. That suits me down to the ground. I like being in central areas. I like having my teammates close by so we can create chances together. What’s more, it’s not so easy for the opposition to defend against this. That’s because they have to decide how to attack the half-space. Do they react to what I or my teammates are doing? If so, that might open up other spaces for us.
How important is pre-season training in the run-up to a new season?
It’s very important to be in really good shape. During the season, you simply can’t replicate the intensity of pre-season training. I believe that you can only perform well during a season if you’ve really pushed yourself in pre-season. That’s why you have to work hard in pre-season to be ready for the season. I want to prove myself because, naturally, I’d like to get more playing time, but I’m not just doing this for myself, I’m doing it for the team as well. I want to help the team by giving my all and, in doing so, spurring the other lads on too.
Is the training camp at the ‘home ground’ the most intense part of pre-season?
Yes, I’d say so. We’re in the fifth week of pre-season and getting closer and closer to the start of competitive fixtures, so it’s normal for the intensity to be very high at this stage. It’s also really warm, but I like that. For me, these are actually the perfect conditions. It’s more demanding to train in temperatures like these, which makes you even more resilient. Still, it wasn’t easy when we had to do endless sprints yesterday. (laughs)
How would you sum up your first season at HSV? What were you happy with, and what weren’t you happy with?
There were ups and downs. I was happy with the first half of the season because I played regularly and scored goals. So things went well for me. It was a different story in the second half of the season, when I played less and scored fewer goals. On top of that, I wasn’t at 100 per cent because I was struggling with some niggles. I’m now working hard in pre-season so that I’m not just satisfied with half a season – I want to perform well throughout the whole year.
You weren’t included in the squad for the 2–1 away win at Wolfsburg for sporting reasons. Head coach Merlin Polzin subsequently praised your reaction to the decision and how you dealt with it.
It was mainly about defending. I know nobody’s perfect, but that’s still what I aim for. I try to give my all, to learn and to improve. I want to work on my weaknesses. If I’m asked to defend better, then I’ll defend better. I’ve also spoken to the defenders, but I’ve mainly discussed things with the coaches. They’re the experts and are best placed to explain to me what they’re asking of me. Of course, I want to play, and if I don’t, I ask what the reasons are. I’m just the sort of person who asks questions to understand things, improve and help the team. I know I can help the team.
(The interview is briefly interrupted by Otto Stange and Daniel Elfadli, who are coming from the training ground and glance in Rayan Philippe’s direction. Stange says ‘Oui’ twice, and all three smile.)
What are your plans for pre-season and the new season?
For now, I’m just giving it my all every day. We’ll see how things look when the season kicks off. I want to play every match and score and set up as many goals as possible. It really wasn’t easy for me to finish the season without any assists. For me, an assist feels just as good as a goal. It really does.
The HSV offense is taking on a different shape following the departures of Ransford Königsdörffer and Robert Glatzel, as well as the signing of Patson Daka. Furthermore, the manager recently hinted that the planning for this position is not yet complete. Where do you see yourself fitting into this set-up?
To be honest, I’m not worrying about it. I give my all in training and, at the end of the day, the coaching staff will make the decision. I can only focus on what I can influence. My aim is to have a better season than last year.
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