I became a part of the Union family when I first walked in the door here, you see the stadium, says Rani Khedira

Former Germany international Sami Khedira's brother speaks on his time with the Eagles.

Being in the limelight matters much less than supporting his teammates and winning games, says Union Berlin midfielder Rani Khedira, the younger brother of former Germany national player Sami. Read his comments about the recent victory over TSG Hoffenheim and the importance of fan support, how players have seen a great development at Union thanks to the coaches, the importance of going to your limits every day, and being part of the Union family.

Here is the full interview:

You are one of the top performers at Union, but you are not always in the spotlight. How do you feel about that?

“I have no problem with it at all, I have to say. I just try to do my job on the pitch and in the dressing room, meaning I just try to support my teammates in a way that helps the performance in the best possible way. Whether I’m in the limelight or more in the background doesn’t interest me at all, I just want to win games and I do everything I can to make that happen.”

After Jordan’s missed penalty, you were one of the first to console him. How important is it to support each other in a team?

“I think it’s just natural. I think if you miss a penalty, especially as a striker who hasn’t scored in a long time, it has an effect on you. It makes you unhappy, and disappointed, and I just wanted to pick him up and tell him it’s no problem, the next chance will come. It didn’t happen in that game, but I think Jordy has already proven that he can score goals, and in that moment, I just wanted to get him back on his feet.”

You were in a good position when Jamie Lewelling scored the final goal against Hoffenheim. Were you upset that he didn’t pass to ball or just happy about the goal?

“I think I was in a better position than him! If he had passed it, I think it would have been a guaranteed goal, and the way he did it, it was a bit of a tougher chance. He had Baumann in front of him still, but as soon as the ball went over the line, I was the happiest guy on the pitch, I was so happy for Jamie, I think it was his first Bundesliga goal with Union. And also, the game was decided, and I was really happy with the 3-1 win.”

Being so close in front of the opponent’s goal is not your typical position on the pitch, is it?

“It surprised me, too! I think it was a free kick for Hoffenheim which we cleared, and I tried to get a bit further forward than usual. I also wanted to score my first goal for Union, so I found a bit of energy!”

What role did the support of the fans play in that win against Hoffenheim even though you were a goal behind after the first half?

“I think we made things a bit difficult for ourselves in the first half, we could have been even further behind. And then in the second half, the fans really drove us on, we came out and won four or five corners in quick succession, and then you get that feeling on the pitch that something is going to happen, that we are going to get back in the game, we are going to turn it around. We weren’t impatient, but we played with power, we played with energy, and as I said, the fans played a big part in that.”

But you made some good substitutions as well.

“That’s right, I think that’s what makes us so special when you can bring players off the bench who are in form, who are up for it, who want to show the coach that they also want to start games, that they’re also important for the team. And set pieces are critical, games are so often decided on the smallest details, and this time they helped us again.”

What persuaded you to join Union?

“I think you can see that Union is looked upon very favourably in Germany. We get a lot of sympathy points. I think the fans and club are very, very special. It was very fun to play here as an away team because the atmosphere is so good, and the important thing was that you can see how much you improve as a player when you’re at Union. They picked up a lot of players who weren’t playing a lot elsewhere, or who had more of an understudy role at their teams, or who came from lower leagues, and all of them have developed in a positive way. I wanted to take a step in my development too, and I think the coaching staff here can really improve you as a player, and that’s why I chose to come here, to play for Union and for these coaches.”

Union seems very strong when it comes to the ability to develop and improve players. What is your secret?

“Yeah, that’s right. I think it has to do with the fact that you’re pushed to your limit every single day here. You’re always pushed in training, you always have to give 100%, and that’s what gives you a good feeling, that security, and you get the belief that you can play in the Bundesliga every weekend exactly how you’ve trained all week. When you go to your limit every day, then you become a little bit better every day.”

Since when have you felt you are really part of the Union family?

“I think it was from day one when you walk in the door here, you see the stadium, I think the first game here was against Bilbao in pre-season, the final game, and the team presentation, and the number of people that were here, how warmly they welcome you, they shout ‘Fußballgott’ after your name, and you just notice that it really comes from the heart, that they really give everything for this club. The stadium, as you said, there was a documentary about this club and how much the fans and the club are bonded together, and I think you feel that every day, around the club, everyone who works here, they live for the club, they’re true fans and they’re just thankful to be able to work for this club.”

Given the remarkable success story of Union Berlin, what makes Union so special compared to other Bundesliga clubs?

“You can hardly believe it when you see it today. But I think that’s what sets this club apart, the fact there’s no difference between the players, staff, fans, everyone is one.”

What is your main focus right now with the upcoming match against Hertha Berlin?

“For us the focus is just on what’s important: the game, having fun with each other, having success, and like I just said, pushing yourself to your limit every day. Everything here is just all about football, and I think that’s why Union have had that continuity in the last few years, with the coaching staff, with Oliver Ruhnert and everyone around him, and what they’ve built is a place where you know it’s all about football, it’s about success, and nothing is more important than that.”

How important is it to win the derby against Hertha?

“It is a very big game for the players of course, and for the fans. I imagine they’ve been excited for this game for weeks. As you mentioned, we’re on a good run against them, four wins in a row, and we want to build on that so that everyone can go to work on Monday morning with their red-and-white scarf and be proud that their team gave their all, and hopefully won the game.”

Do you think Union can repeat the success from the first matchday of this season, winning 4-1 against Hertha?

“I think we played very, very well back then. We made one mistake after the break which allowed Hertha to get back in the game at 1-1, and the game was a little bit on a knife edge even though we were clearly the better team and we were

dominant. And then we scored the second and third goals at the right time to bring a bit more calmness to proceedings, but yeah, the atmosphere was really something unbelievable.”

How is it playing midweek fixtures?

“Yeah, it was the same in the first half of the season too, and I think we dealt with it well, making sure we were fully focused every three days and not looking ahead by two weeks, looking at a big game coming up, or looking when we’re playing Bayern or whatever. Instead, we said to ourselves that we’ll take every game as it comes, and then we try to pick up points game by game, and I think you could see that pretty clearly in the first half of the season.”

Union's goal for the season was to stay in the first league and get to at least 40 points. Union is currently in second place in the table with 33 points. Have the season goals changed in the meantime?

“Yeah, it’s been the same for a while, we still always want to achieve our first goal, first and foremost, and we need seven more points to get there. It’s still tough, because it’s not easy to get points in the Bundesliga, so we have to go into it with that thinking, with that drive to reach 40 points as quickly as we can, and then we can talk about anything you like. But 40 points, it’s hanging up there in the dressing room, that’s the most important goal for us, and until we’ve reached that 40-point mark you’re not allowed to think about anything else.”

What is your coach, Urs Fischer, like as a person?

“He’s very direct. I think he likes to criticise you, to make you better, that’s his main job as a coach – to make you better, so from that perspective, he’s very demanding. Every day, every play, he doesn’t let you rest, he’s always driving you on, he wants you to take everything he says on board every day, that you take it on and take steps forward, and he doesn’t give you any freebies in any situation.

He’s obsessed with the small details, he never gives you rest, he’s always on the front foot, and you could say, he always wants to move forward. As a person, it’s tough to judge outside of this circus here! In the football world. I think he’s a family person, with good values, respect, and discipline, and I think it shows in what we do on the pitch. And I also think he’s a guy who likes to eat good food!”

Is Urs Fischer able to smile as well?

“He can smile! But he can also be quite strict.”

How does he motivate you in the dressing room before games?

“Every game is different. You’re happy about every win, I’ve said already that it’s really hard to get points in the Bundesliga, and if you win a derby then, of course, it’s a special feeling, but it’s three points and that’s what we’ll be celebrating, a lot! It’s a nice feeling.”

It’s your birthday on Friday. What’s your birthday wish looking at the next matchday?

“I hope that we win the game and that I can get on the scoresheet!”