Hoffenheim's Dardanian striker, Fisnik Asllani, spoke in an interview for the official Bundesliga website, where he focused on his excellent form and goals for the future, emphasizing that work and dedication have been the key to his success in the Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old, who is shining this season with the German team, expressed pride in his journey, underlining that he has never lost faith even in the most difficult moments of his career.

Interview:

Bundesliga: You made the move to the Bundesliga after loan spells at Austria Vienna and Elversberg look easy. How does that make you feel?

Asllani: "I'm proud of myself, because not many people would have expected me to be where I am now a year and a half ago. I never stopped working, even when things didn't look promising, and in the end I was rewarded for that."

"I just try to enjoy everything - enjoy football and have fun. I don't focus on things off the pitch. I just want to give my best and enjoy myself, because when I enjoy it, I play my best football."

Bundesliga: Is it fair to say that your game looks easy, but in fact it's not that simple?

Asllani: “True – it seems simple, but it’s not. I like to laugh, and maybe that shows on the pitch. I enjoy being there with the team, not just focusing on football all the time, but also joking around and having fun. I try to be a normal person, instead of overthinking what a professional footballer should be like. At the end of the day, it’s a hobby that became my job, and it’s important to keep that mindset. It helps me maintain that sense of ease.”

Bundesliga: How have you managed to stay grounded during this huge development this season?

Asllani: “It comes from the way I grew up. We didn’t have the easiest life and we worked hard for everything. My parents fled the war and had to start from scratch. They didn’t have the opportunities that I have today. In a way, I’m living my father’s dream – he also wanted to be a professional footballer, but didn’t have the opportunities. That’s why he’s very proud. No matter what happens in my career, I’ll never forget where I come from. I want to stay grounded, and my father helps me a lot with that.”

Bundesliga: It was an important year for Kosovo as well, as you narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup. What was that experience like?

Asllani: "I had some extraordinary moments. At the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers I didn't get as many minutes as I had hoped. Then I started a match and scored immediately, I scored in the next match as well, as well as in the play-off semi-final against Slovakia. These are moments you never forget. Even in the away matches, the number of our fans was incredible."

"Seeing the celebrations, hearing the noise after the goal, and then seeing my parents in the stands – those are unforgettable moments. There were times when people would stop me on the street and talk about me as the one who scored against Slovenia. Now people know my name. I worked hard for this and it makes me and my family very proud."

Bundesliga: Hoffenheim is still in the top six, but recently they have not been as successful as at the beginning of the season. Why do you think this has happened?

Asllani: “Football is often about momentum. Maybe we had it more in the fall and winter. Sometimes it all depends on small details – maybe you win a penalty, or the ball goes into the net instead of hitting the post. These are things you have to win. We are working hard to make better decisions in those small moments, so that things turn in our favor again. We are training intensively every day to change the situation.”

Bundesliga: Do you see the match of week 30 against Dortmund as an opportunity to turn the situation around?

Asllani: "Yes, it's a very good opportunity to show what we are capable of. The last matches didn't go as we wanted and we didn't get the points we hoped for. Dortmund is a strong team and is in second place for a reason. We will focus on ourselves, we will give everything and then we will see the result."

Bundesliga: What is your dream for the future in football?

Asllani: "I want to go as far as possible. I have big ambitions and I want to have a great career. I am working hard every day in training and trying to improve in every aspect. I analyze my performances, work closely with the coaches and always look for ways to become better. My focus is to improve myself, and I hope that everything else will come by itself."