Oliver Baumann on ‘modern' goalkeeping: “That doesn't matter!”

Hello, Oliver. You received a lot of praise after the match against Hamburger SV. How do you feel about that?

Oliver Baumann: I like it, but I don't get hung up on it. I analysed what I did well and what I can improve on with the coaching staff, as I do after every game, then I put the match behind me.

You're the type of goalkeeper who always makes clearances outside your box. When did this start becoming a main feature of your style of play?

Baumann: That was always a part of my style. It doesn't matter whether that's now being considered ‘modern' or not. I always make split-second decision as to whether I should rush out. There are two criteria before I make this decision: Does it make sense and will it help the team? There were one or two moments in Hamburg where I didn't necessarily have to come out, but I helped the team by doing so. I was happy with the decisions that I made in that match.

Markus Gisdol has labelled the coming days as the “hardest week of the season.” Do you agree with that?

Baumann: It will be a testing one for us because it's been a short week after the match on Sunday and Paderborn are tough opponents. The players are unbelievably in tune with each other and that's their strong point. It will be hard to create goalscoring opportunities. The chances will arrive if we fight and work together as a team. The match has come at a good time and will show us just where we're at as a group. I hope that we'll be able to come away with three points.

Paderborn have been the dark horse in the Bundesliga this season. Have you been following what's going on there?

Baumann: Obviously I have been doing intensively in the build-up to the match. The coaching staff will be preparing us very specifically for the game. Other than that, I only know what every other football fan knows.

You've surely heard about Moritz Stoppelkamp's goal from almost 90 yards out. How can you stop him doing something similar against you?

Baumann: (laughs) I hope that I won't have to go forward for a corner in added time. Hopefully we will have won the match comfortably by then.

You have a busy week ahead of you after the match against Paderborn with a mid-week DFB Cup match coming up. How is the strain for you as a goalkeeper?

Baumann: It's a different kind of strain for me in comparison to how it affects the outfield players. I run less and the physical demands aren't as high. It's important for me to analyse matches shortly after they've been played, then to have a break where I can clear my head and get my concentration back. I don't like to have any distractions in between matches and like to find peace.

You've had to adapt to a different style of goalkeeping training at TSG. Are you finding it easy or are the differences not that big?

Baumann: Of course there are small differences in training and in matches, but the goalkeeping techniques are the same here as they were in Freiburg. Before I made the transfer, I had conversations that showed me this would be the case. I think that everything I'm doing here is helping to develop my game.

In commentator-speak, they always say “he's always alert when you need him”. How do you do that? Sometimes, there are phases in matches where you could say you have the best seat in the house...

Baumann: It's really “only” a matter of concentration. When we have a corner, I obviously have a little bit of time to relax, but as soon as the play is heading towards me, I look to get involved, follow what's going on and anticipate what could happen. I don't have to force myself to concentrate; it comes from being attentive to the match.

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