Interview

Pherai’s focus: “There’s more to come!”

Immanuel Pherai has impressed since coming back from a long injury layoff, but the 22-year-old midfielder is still asking for more from himself ahead of the big game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

When Immanuel Pherai got himself a goal involvement for the first time in HSV colours after around 15 minutes of the first matchday of the new season in the home game against FC Schalke 04 by putting the ball on a plate for Robert Glatzel to make it 1-0, it was confirmed for all HSV fans: Pherai is a boost for the Rothosen’s frontline. When ‘Manu’ Pherai set up Glatzel in almost identical fashion shortly before half time on the tenth matchday to make it 2-0 against SpVgg Greuther Fürth – with Hamburg’s number nine again able to turn Pherai’s low cross from the right over the line – and grabbed his second goal involvement of the season, it brought back memories of the first matchday. But there were a few weeks in between when Pherai could sometimes only watch from the sidelines and was “very annoyed”, as he says in conversation with HSV.de. Here is the Dutchman on his four-game absence due to injury and his anticipation for the coming weeks and months – beginning with a huge game at the Betzenberg, a place where Pherai has particularly strong memories.

Manu, you recently set up Robert Glatzel’s goal to make it 2-0 against SpVgg Greuther Fürth and previously won a penalty at SV Wehen Wiesbaden. There’s a feeling that you’re getting back into the swing of things. Do you agree with this assessment?

Pherai: I think this feeling is correct. I also share it. After moving to HSV, I was really welcomed by the team and the whole club and also started the season very well, but unfortunately then I came up against a few problems. Firstly, I was ill, and then came the first injury. That was of course not ideal. But I also have to compliment the medical department, the physios and the athletic coaches, who got me fit again every time. Recently, I probably haven’t been completely 100 percent yet, but I can definitely tell that it’s getting better.

Compatriots, teammates and friends: Immanuel Pherai and Ludovit Reis.

You said following the fixture against Greuther Fürth: “I didn’t actually want to come on under these circumstances.” For context, your teammate Ludovit Reis had to be taken off following a shoulder injury, meaning you were brought on early on in the game.

Yes, that’s right, I said that and I meant it. No one wants to benefit from a friend and teammate’s injury. It’s always bad for the people involved and for us as a team. However, I obviously tried to do my best in order to help the team and show what I’m capable of. I think I managed to do that, but I know for sure that there’s still more to come!

You’ll be able to prove just that in the huge fixture against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday evening. A sold out stadium in Betzenberg with around 50,000 fans under the floodlights – provided you’re named in the starting eleven, what are you expecting from both yourself and the team in this game?

I’m expecting a lot from this match, as I’m aware of the atmosphere in Betzenberg. I unfortunately fell ill last season and missed the game when I was at Eintracht Braunschweig, but played there the season before in the third division with Borussia Dortmund U23s. The stadium was virtually sold out and had the third most spectators ever at a third-division match, and FCK were playing for automatic promotion to the second division that day. Matheo Raab was in goal for them at the time, and I beat him shortly before the end and scored to make it 3-0. (laughs) So we won there, but I remember very well that the atmosphere in the stadium was amazing, and we can expect that again this weekend. We’re nevertheless going into the game with the clear target of collecting the three points, as that’s our goal in every fixture.

In the thick of the action for HSV: Immanuel Pherai was an asset to the Rothosen and provided an assist in their 2-0 victory over Greuther Fürth.

How happy are you to once again be involved in such a game rather than just being there? Surely you’re not a good spectator?

When I can’t play and sit near the subs bench at home games, I feel like a fan and I root for the team, but it naturally makes you extremely uncomfortable when you can only watch and can’t help. It’s extremely frustrating at away games when the team and thousands of fans are on their way to the game, whilst you have to stay in Hamburg and train alone. Of course, I also try to stay positive during such periods, but I have to confess that I was pretty frustrated and sulky last time. I played 90 minutes for the first time since my enforced break in the friendly against FC Volendam before the first international break – I felt really good and wanted to attack things, but then I broke my toe in the week before the next game. It was clear that it would take a while for it to heal. I was very annoyed at this stage.

It’s all the better that you’re back and fully involved.

Yes, because I would like to finally get into my stride now. It’s been like that so far. My arrival at HSV and in Hamburg was really good, I settled really well within the club and the town, but it’s only not worked out as hoped from a sporting perspective. I haven’t really been able to show the HSV fans what I can do yet. Of course, I feel trusted by the coaches and my teammates, but I would like to show everyone involved with HSV that I can help the team and make an important contribution towards success. Due to injuries, this hasn’t yet been possible like I had imagined, and that really annoys me. Therefore, I’m really looking forward to the weekend and to the coming weeks and I want to show all the HSV fans the real Immanuel Pherai – preferably away at Kaiserslautern on Sunday evening.