Boniface ahead of return to Norway: ‘Always a special memory’

Victor, Thursday takes you to Molde. You've often played against the Norwegians and of all the players in the team you are the one they know best. What are your memories of the club, what tips can you give your teammates and how you preparing for the game?

Boniface: Molde are one of the top teams in the Norwegian league and they compete for the title year after year. Molde were the reigning champions when I joined Bodø/Glim in 2019, and in the next two years where we won the league, Molde were the main competitors as runners-up. We definitely can't afford to underestimate them also because they are at home. The artificial pitch there could be to their advantage. For us there will be rather unusual playing conditions. It can get really cold over there and we are coming from a hot summer in Germany. We have to be ready for everything and well prepared.

What does the game mean to you and how great is your anticipation ahead of the coming match in the Europa League?

Boniface: I will always have a special memory of Molde and the stadium, I scored my first goal as a professional football player. It was a really big match back then: Molde against Bodø/Glimt, first against second. Unfortunately, we lost in the end but for me it was a very special day because of my goal. I'm happy to look back at my time in Norway. Accordingly I'm very much looking forward to the trip and the match as well as with all the other games in the Europa League. This competition is important for us. We are really up for it!

You've been at Bayer 04 for two months now and you have already made a lasting impression. Numerous goals and assists plus awards as Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month in August – how exciting has it been for you up to now?

Boniface: It's been very exciting so far. The two awards are a special honour that make me proud. I really feel at home in Leverkusen and in this team. I had contact with a couple of players, for example Jerry (Jeremie Frimpong, ed.) before I arrived. I knew how good this team is, how good they can be and how brilliantly I can fit in with them.

You can see how well you understand each other on the pitch week after week. It often looks like you've played together for a long time. It's remarkable above all how quickly you have settled into the new team and immediately made your contribution to success…

Boniface: I just try to make it easier for my teammates by adjusting to them. Before I joined the team I knew how they played. I watched videos of my teammates and analysed their style of play. At Leverkusen for example it included Flo (Florian Wirtz, ed.). It's very interesting for me how my teammates play and what sort of teammate they need to be successful. I am adjusting to that and trying to fit in quickly.

Finally, give us an insight into how you see your own role on the pitch. Obviously you're not the classic striker waiting in the middle up front...

Boniface: Exactly. There are lots of classic strikers. They wait for their moment in the penalty area. But then it can happen that they don't touch the ball for ten minutes. I don't like that. I want to play differently, create chances and not just finish them. I like dropping back to take part in the build-up and I like pulling opposition defenders towards me and thereby creating space for my teammates. A bit of this style is in my nature. I used to play in midfield and increasingly took part in build-up play. I often watch videos of tricky and intelligent players to develop my game in that way to be able to the help the team even more.