Interview

Poreba: “I want to show what I’m capable of”

Midfielder Lukasz Poreba speaks to HSV.de about his second year with the club, his style of play, important moments in his career and his past as a prolific winger.

HSV.de: Lukasz, it’s now day three of pre-season. How does it feel to be back out there?

Lukasz Poreba: I’m pleased to be back. We had a long break and we’re now all motivated to get back to work. We’ve got quite a few training sessions planned. It’s tiring stuff, but that’s absolutely fine. We need all this training to prepare well for the new season.

HSV signed you on a permanent basis from RC Lens following the conclusion of last season. How happy are you to be staying here in Hamburg after your loan spell?

I’m really happy about it. I tried my best to get this contract last season. It wasn’t an easy year for me, particularly in the first half when I had a few injury problems and didn’t play much. Things went a lot better after the winter break, though I still wasn’t able to fully show what I’m capable of. That’s my aim now for the new campaign.

You joined on loan really late on in pre-season last year. How different does your situation feel now?

It’s a lot easier for me because I know the coach, my teammates and the staff a lot better. They also know what I’m like as well. As a result of that, I’m a lot more comfortable. It’s generally tough to settle into a club and a team when you’ve been at several clubs in a short period of time, as was the case with me.

The language can also play an important role. How is your German?

I understand lot, maybe around 50-60% of what people say. I’m also becoming more confident when speaking it too. I’ve set myself the aim of putting more energy into learning the language this year. It’s an important thing when it comes to integrating, otherwise there will always be a barrier there.

Your game speaks for itself on the pitch. You always look to be in control and play with real clarity. Despite your age, you come across as a calm and confident player. Where has this style come from?

I changed my style of play a little bit when I started playing adult football. I was a bit hectic as a youngster and I’ve grown up in this regard. I try to keep things simple, only take two touches and keep my position in midfield. I can control my emotions during games, I’m always fully focused. That’s my job. Whether I score a goal, make a tackle or misplace a pass, I simply try to keep my emotions in check. This is the mindset I always have.

What would have to happen for you to get angry?

I’m a calm guy on the pitch, but I’m completely different off it. (laughs) Everyone that knows me is familiar with how crazy I can be, and that I can have some silly ideas. The language barrier is obviously something that often stops me showing this side of myself. I’m full of energy!

When is this energy on show?

During competitive things. I’m somebody that always wants to win. My friends, my little brother and my girlfriend could back that up. It doesn’t matter what I’m playing, I always take it very seriously and want to win.

You are only 24 years old, yet you’ve played in three different countries and leagues already. If you take a look back at your still short career, what were the key moments that helped you become the player you are today?

I got the chance to get some minutes at a young age in the top flight at my first club Zagłębie Lubin. This then helped me to mature into a first-team regular. It was during this time that I made Poland’s U21 squad, those were both milestones for me. I moved to France when I was 22 and a lot of things there were different compared to back home in Poland. Although I had two compatriots in Przemyslaw Frankowski and Adam Buksa alongside me to help me, I still had to learn the language and impress out on the pitch. Another key moment was here in Germany at HSV. Despite the difficulties I’ve already mentioned, I’ve showed my quality and got the chance to stay here.

What have you learnt about HSV after a year at the club?

To be honest, I found out that HSV is a really big club in Germany when I was young, but the size and stature of the club still surprised me somewhat. The standards here are really high in every regard. When you play for HSV, you come up against opponents that give 200% against you, which is a really useful experience and definitely helps you. You obviously have to learn how to deal with pressure too, but regularly playing in front of 50,000 of your own fans is a special feeling.

You also scored a few goals in the second half of last season. Even though you’re a natural defensive midfielder, you were deployed slightly higher up the pitch during this period. What are your thoughts on this role?

I’ve mainly played as a number 6, alongside another one, or as a deeper number 8 in recent years. The coach used me in a more attacking role and I showed that I can score goals and create chances from this position. Playing as a number 8 is a bit more challenging for me, but I’m more confident in the role the more I train and play there. I ultimately just want to play as much football as possible and help us to achieve our main goal.

Final question: have you always been a defensive midfielder or did you play in a different position when you were younger?

I was actually a right winger as a kid. I used to love dribbling on the wing and I scored lots of goals too. “Dribble and score” was my motto in the 5v5 games back then. I moved into midfield in my youth and then at the start of my professional career, and I’ve played in all positions since in the heart of the midfield. I don’t dribble like I used to! (laughs)