BILD: At the World Cup you came third with Croatia. What does this success mean to you?
Borna Sosa (25): “Very much! Croatia has just 3.8 million inhabitants. If you then win against Brazil, it means a lot for our country. But also for me personally: I played against Neymar, Lionel Messi or Kevin de Bruyne. Players signed to the best clubs in the world. I will never forget the celebration in Zagreb after the World Cup with 250,000 people for the rest of my life.”
BILD: Which World Cup moment was the best for you?
Sosa (laughs): “The party after the win against Brazil, we had a party at the hotel. But the day in Zagreb, after we won the game for third place, was also wonderful.”
BILD: In the semifinals, Lionel Messi whirled at you. What’s it like defending against him?
Sosa: “He’s the best player I’ve ever played against. You can’t really defend him. Everyone saw what he did with Josko Gvardiol in front of the goal to make it 3-0. And for me, Josko Gvardiol was the best defender in the World Cup. But against Messi, at 35, you have almost no chance. For me he is the best player in history.”
BILD: Did a very special Messi moment stick in your mind?
Sosa: “I got his shirt. After the game I waited for his TV interviews and then asked him in Spanish because I didn’t know if he spoke English. He gave me his jersey, hugged me and wished me good luck. That was a beautiful moment.”
BILD: Does the shirt have a place of honor in your home?
Sosa (laughs): “It’s in the safe next to the World Cup medal. For me personally, the jersey doesn’t count any more than the medal. But it’s definitely worth more money.”
BILD: You were injured for a few weeks after the World Cup and missed the training camp. How difficult was this time for you?
Sosa: “Due to the fact that the Bundesliga didn’t start until the end of January, there was a certain amount of time for rehabilitation. But of course I wanted to get back into the team as soon as possible. We had a new coach and a new sporting director. I wanted to get to know both of them quickly.”
BILD: You were in Munich for two weeks during your injury. Why?
Sosa: “I trained there with Doctor Thierry Murrisch, who I have worked with for a long time. Of course we did everything there in close consultation with the VfB doctors. When I then came back to Stuttgart, the coaches were very satisfied with my physical condition. I worked four to five hours a day in Munich. Now I feel very good.”
BILD: You have been back in team training at VfB for two weeks. What is your impression of coach Bruno Labbadia?
Sosa: “I think he’s the best coach I’ve had in my career so far. I have a lot of respect for coaches who were once good players themselves. And he was a great player. When he tells us something, he knows exactly what he’s talking about because he used to experience things himself as a player. I have a good relationship with him. He’s a coach who talks to us players a lot. That is important to me personally.”
BILD: You formed a perfect duo with ex-striker Sasa Kalajdzic. He is in England now. Do you dream of the Premier League yourself?
Sosa: “Like many players, I dream of playing in the Premier League one day. This is the strongest league in the world. It’s not just the big six top clubs, the other teams are strong too. And if I could play there in a team with Sasa, then all the better.” (laughs)
PROVOCANT STATEMENTS ABOUT BVB Hoeneß takes on Watzke
BILD: In the winter you were close to a move to Bayer Leverkusen. However, VfB rejected the offer. Are you sad that the deal didn’t go through?
Sosa: “Every player sets himself goals in his career and I want to play in a European team if possible. But the move to Leverkusen didn’t work out and that’s the end of the matter. I feel very comfortable at VfB, I’ve been here for almost five years. I want to help achieve our goals. The fact that I stayed in Stuttgart is not a problem for me.”
