1. FC Köln: FC professional Luca Kilian reveals: I was a ball boy with Jürgen Klopp! – Bundesliga
Dortmund in the heart – FC on the chest. In BILD Cologne’s clearer Luca Kilian (22) explains why the home game against BVB (Sun./7.30 p.m./DAZN) is particularly emotional for him.
BILD: The third duel with your former and training club is imminent. Still something special?
Killian: “Definitely! I spent my whole youth there and have been a Dortmund fan for as long as I can remember. As a little boy, I was always in the stadium, had jerseys, scarves, all sorts of fan paraphernalia. Later I got my season tickets. And today, Mats Hummels’ shirt from the first leg is hanging on my wall at home. Dortmund will always remain my heart club.”
BILD: How did it all start?
Killian: “Through my grandpa. He used to play for BVB for three years. I went to the stadium with my grandma for the first time when I was six – I think against Werder Bremen. Then, at 13, I became a ball boy. That was the Champions League season under Jürgen Klopp, in which they reached the final. Suddenly I was right there on the sidelines. Simply fascinating.”
BILD: And Hummel’s…?
Killian: “Always been my favorite player and role model. Back in 2008 when he came from Bayern Munich. That has not changed to this day.”
BILD: Despite your love for BVB, you play for Cologne today. Was your talent misjudged back then?
Killian: “No. I even played second team for a year and they would have liked to keep me. At the time, however, I wanted the adventure of being a professional soccer player and went to Paderborn. An absolute stroke of luck.”
BILD: Thanks to Steffen Baumgart, who was still in the Paderborn War at the time. Today he speaks of you as a foster son. How would you describe it?
Kilian: “We definitely have a special relationship. He helped me to my Bundesliga debut, trusted me from the start and now brought me back from Mainz and gave me a chance after things didn’t go well there. I am eternally grateful to him for that. And I hope that I will stay with FC after the end of my loan period in the summer.”
BILD: You were last there in the derby when Florian Wirtz tore his cruciate ligament. Have you been in touch since then?
Killian: “No, not personally yet. I think he’s busy enough at the moment and I’ll report back when things calm down. Above all, I hope that everything will be fine and that he will come back quickly. As an athlete, your heart bleeds in such situations. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
BILD: On Sunday, Erling Haaland is waiting for the next top star. It can’t get much harder, can it?
Killian: (laughs) “No. I played against him when I was young with Germany against Norway. Even then we were all amazed at how good it is. He was a year younger than the rest and broke everything up. He makes the difference. But I’m looking forward to the task.”
BILD: Especially since you haven’t won against BVB.
Killian: “I’m all the hotter for the game. I hope that the first three will finally work out.”
BILD: Even if grandpa is sad then?
Killian: “Oh was. Grandpa always stands by his grandson – that’s obvious. Even if he then has to play against Borussia twice a year. He’ll be in the stadium on Sunday and of course keeping his fingers crossed for me.”