Levan Kobiashvili
August 16, 2007
Levan Kobiashvili: It was a bit lucky, but luck's part of the game. The main thing is the ball went in and we were up 1-nil.
Bundesliga Kiff Off: You don't score many goals, but they're usually nice ones, although that can't be said of the one against Stuttgart.
All goals are nice. It's fun scoring them. Like I said, the main thing is that the ball is in the net. In a few months or years, no one cares how it got there
.Can Schalke win the league this year?
The league? That's tough to say. This season, it looks as if Bayern have a better squad than the other teams. But they still have to earn the trophy.
You were born in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, on the border between Europe and Asia. What's it like at home?
In the past couple of years, things have gotten lots better. We didn't have an easy time of it before. Georgia is a small country, and over the border is giant Russia. They have lots of power, not only in the Caucasus, but around the world. And it has to be said that we had a number of civil wars in the past ten or fifteen years -- there was lots of fighting. But Georgia is my homeland and I love it -- in bad times as well as in good times.
What should everyone know about Georgia?
That we produce good footballers.
The Georgian international side has a German coach.
Yes, we've got a very good international coach in Klaus Toppmöller. It's not easy to get such a good coach to come to Georgia. But he knows that we have good players.
You studied history.
Yes I did -- until I left to play football in Freiburg. Then I had to stop. I simply didn't have time. But I want to finish my studies in the future."
So you're not going to become a coach in five or six years when your career is over?
No way. I'll never be a coach.
It's your fifth season with Schalke. And you've always been one of the players with the most appearances in games.
There's always competition for spots at an ambitious club. I think the fact that I've had success proves that I also have quality.
Fabian Ernst: Levan has lots of experience. He keeps his head with the ball and recognizes situations on the pitch. It's fun playing with him. You know you can rely on him.
Ivan Rakitic: He's very intelligent and strong technically. He someone who thinks about what he does. And he's a great guy off the pitch.
Levan Kobiashvili: My whole life, I've lived and fought for the chance to play for a big club.
Marcelo Bordon: He's very quiet. Sometimes you don't hear a word from him the whole season.
Levan Kobiashvili: That's just the way I am. There are people who want to create a stir in front of the camera. I don't. That's not the type of person I am. But I'm more well-known in Georgia. I'm in great demand when we're there.
You have a tough derby against Dortmund this weekend. What do you expect from the match?
It's a very special game for us as players and for all of Schalke, the fans and the club. It's a derby and everyone knows what that means -- especially since we lost the league title last season in Dortmund. If we'd won that match, we would have almost certainly won the league. Unfortunately we didn't. It was one of the bitterest days of my career.
You opened this season for Schalke by scoring. Do you hope a goal by Levan Kobiashvili win Schalke the championship?
That would be a dream come true. But as long as we win the trophy, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Keeper Manuel Neuer for all I care. The main thing is the title.
Thanks a lot and good luck.
Thanks
.