After a lengthy injury-enforced absence last season, Kilian Fischer has established himself as a key figure at VfL Wolfsburg over the past six months. Here, the full-back talks about his development in that time, his diet and the reason behind the Wolves’ upturn in fortunes.
Kilian Fischer, after a mixed start to the season the Wolves are now on a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions. How did you manage to rediscover your momentum?
Kilian Fischer: “We had some decent games at the start of the season in particular, but we were unable to deliver consistent performances over 90 minutes. We were a few percentage points away from turning decent games into positive results. We’ve done a lot better in that regard in recent weeks, mainly because we’re more organised and conceding fewer goals – that’s the key to success.”
Was there a particular turning point where things started to improve?
Kilian: “There wasn’t a specific moment. We just kept noticing in our analysis that we were conceding too many goals and worked hard on improving that record. We know we’re capable of scoring goals at the other end, which is why we focused more on the defensive side of things. We managed to get that under control.”
You’ve appeared in every competitive game so far this season. In our last interview, Joakim Maehle and Ridle Baku were ahead of you in the pecking order on the right wing. How important have the last six months been for you?
Kilian: “When you change coach, you start from scratch to a certain extent. I made a couple of appearances under Ralph Hasenhüttl last season and had time to show what I’m capable of during pre-season. Some of the attributes I bring to the table are valued a little bit more now, it seems. I’m extremely pleased with my development and grateful for the faith shown in me.”
What attributes are those exactly?
Kilian: “I’m a player who delivers relatively consistent performances with no major ups or downs. Maybe that’s why I’m able to contribute to our consistency. People know what they’re going to get with me. I’m happy that I feel more like part of the team now, because I’m getting to show what I’m capable of on the pitch more frequently. That obviously boosts my confidence and belief in myself. It’s a different feeling on the whole.”
On Instagram, you follow a number of accounts that focus on veganism. How long have you been doing that?
Kilian: “For a long time now. Generally speaking, I’m someone who always tries to get the most out of myself and my body. There are obviously lots of little areas you can work on, including eating vegan food. I’m not a vegan myself, but I enjoy broadening my horizons and I’m trying to incorporate a more plant-based diet into my daily routine. It’s going well and it makes me feel really good.”
What kind of game are you expecting in Leipzig on Saturday?
Kilian: “Leipzig have started the season extremely well, but they haven’t been as successful in recent weeks. Looking at their team, they have enormous quality on the pitch and they have a quick, dangerous player in [Loïs] Openda. We’ll need to be organised on the pitch and pick out our quick forward players on the counter-attack.”
