Guéla Doué: ‘Really excited for what’s to come’

Guéla Doué on…

…his first few weeks at Bayer 04 and the team dynamic: "Obviously at the start it was mainly the French guys who helped me. I actually already knew Martin [Terrier] and Loïc [Badé] before. But everyone really looked after me. It’s perfectly normal for players who speak the same language to spend a bit more time together in day-to-day life. But that doesn’t change the fact that our team spirit is really very good. Everyone gets on with everyone else. And I’m currently learning both German and Spanish [laughs]."

…his current injury: "Obviously I was frustrated at first, but unfortunately injuries are just part and parcel of sport. Those first few minutes on the pitch with the guys in Augsburg already felt brilliant. I’m getting better day by day. Now it’s all about getting fit again as quickly as possible so I can finally play in our stadium in front of our fans. The recent home games, which I could unfortunately only watch from the stands, have made me look forward to it even more. The atmosphere and the fans’ passion were incredible! They love this club and are here to support us. I’ll work hard every day to get back to doing what I love as soon as possible: being out on the pitch."

…his style of play: "I love defending, winning the ball, coming out on top in one-v-ones, and then getting involved in attack to help the team with runs, assists and goals. And I love winning. I always want to win. I hate losing."

…his relationship with his brother Désiré, a two-time Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain and France international: "We have an incredibly close bond. He was also the first person I rang straight after signing my contract. He was absolutely delighted for me and that I’m here now. We really do speak on the phone every day. He also knows that Leverkusen is a top club with very good players and big ambitions. That gave me even more confidence in coming here, rather than perhaps choosing the slightly easier option and staying in France. And who knows – maybe we’ll face each other in the Champions League as early as next year. That would be something very special and definitely unforgettable."

…his impression of the Bundesliga: "The league is very intense and attack-minded. All the players are constantly involved and work hard in both directions. When the ball is lost, everyone immediately runs after it to win it back. When the ball is won, the play often moves straight forward. There’s a reason why the Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world. I believe its style of play will suit my strengths very well. I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead."

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