Q&A: Robbie Kruse
Fortunas Australian international forward speaks exclusively to BundesligaFootball.
Posted by
Ross Dunbar on August 29, 2012 in
Bundesliga,
Feature,
Fortuna Düsseldorf ·
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Fortuna Düsseldorf kicked off their first campaign in the Bundesliga in 15 years on Saturday with an impressive 2-0 win over FC Augsburg.
Norbert Meier has added 19 players this summer from last seasons promotion side and at the heart of the new-look team, is Australian international Robbie Kruse.
Bundesliga Footballs Ross Dunbar caught up with the forward about the clubs return to the top-flight.
RD: It was a great start for Fortuna at FC Augsburg on Saturday were you surprised at picking your first win in the Bundesliga so early on?
RK: Yeah, obviously the first game back in the league in over 15 years was such a big occasion. I thought we started a bit nervy but as the game went on, we gradually got better and the second half was a wonderful performance to come away and really restrict them to just one major chance in the match. To win the game, is even better. It gives us a massive confidence boost ahead of the derby.
RD: How has the close season been for you, given that Fortuna have made so many new signings? Has it been difficult to get to know your new team-mates?
RK: It has been quite tough. We got something like 18 or 19 new players in the summer so it was a massive change but we got into pre-season pretty early compared to other teams. We gradually got to know each other with the amount of time we spent together and we had two pre-season camps so we had a lot of time to bond as a team.
RD: By being one of the three newly-promoted clubs, do you think that takes away a little bit of pressure from you because not many expect Fortuna to stay up?
RK: Yeah, I think so. With Fortuna, maybe they arent as big as some of the other teams but we have a massive supporter base and our fans are some of the best in the country. We will make sure that we give every team a run for their money this season.
RD: It obviously is a dream for you to play in the Bundesliga, but it came in quite bizarre circumstances. How did you find the experience of the second-leg, in particular?
RK: Well, the second leg was pretty crazy with the miscommunication of the pitch invasion and stuff. It was disappointing because our first two home games are restricted to just 25,000 because of what happened. The game was fantastic, though, and it was just all about getting qualification for the Bundesliga, performances didnt really matter when it came to that. Looking back, it was just a fantastic experience.
RD: Coming from the A-League, this must have been a bit of an eye-opener for you with such a chaotic environment inside the stadium?
RK: It was quite bizarre, to be honest. Coming from Australia, were not usually accustomed to this sort of fan-style inside the arena. But since Ive been in Dusseldorf, the fans have been fantastic and it is great to see what the club means to them. To see them running on to the field and even when the game finished, to see their faces and fans crying, was really touching. We really need to make sure we pay them back by giving them something to cheer for.
RD: As an Aussie, it must be encouraging to see so many players from Australia being scouted by German clubs, like Mitch Langerak, Mustafa Amini, and others?
RK: The transition from the old generation of players Kewell, Cahill etc has taken some time and has been much publicised. There is obviously the two guys that you said and theres Matt Leckie too. Hopefully we can keep performing at this level and then put Australia on the map in years to come. Germany is a wonderful league to play in, everything about it: the league, the structure, the fans.
Read more:
- Fortuna Return Hit by Woes
