Hack: "I’d like to take the next step"

Robin Hack speaks to borussia.de about his hat-trick at Hoffenheim, his personal development at Gladbach and his side’s upcoming game against Union Berlin.

Robin, how big a blow is it to score three times in a game and still not get a result?

Hack: I’m not upset that I got a hat-trick and ended up on the losing side, but that we left empty-handed after coming back from two goals down. After fighting back from 3-1, we simply had to come away with a point. I’m still annoyed we didn’t manage that. We did a few things wrong in that game. There were also some positives, though, and we have to draw on those. It’s extremely important that we remain positive and strive to get out of the current sporting situation together.

At Hoffenheim, you scored one with your left foot, one with your right and one with a header…

Hack: At the end of the day, I don’t really care how I score – the main thing is that the ball ends up in the back of the net. We combined well going forward for the first goal. I suddenly found myself free on the edge of the box and stuck it in with my left foot. When I made it 3-2, Joe put in a great cross. I had a free header and I placed it well. For 3-3 I saw that Oliver Baumann was expecting a cross to come in. I was certain he wasn’t anticipating that I, as a right-footer, would shoot at goal from such a tight angle.

On Sunday afternoon you face Union Berlin at home. What sort of game are you expecting?

Hack: It’s an important match for both sides – and both teams are well aware of that. I think it will be very intense and physical. We have to accept that. Ultimately, it’s not important whether it’s a good game or not – the main thing is that we leave the pitch as winners after 90 minutes. That’s the top priority. We all know exactly what’s at stake, and that makes me feel positive about what lies ahead.

In the first half of the season, you were often deployed as a substitute and were without a goal in the Bundesliga. Since the start of the new year, you’ve become a regular in the starting XI and have scored eight times. How do you explain your upturn in fortunes?

Hack: Obviously I would have liked to have started more regularly. But I knew as a new signing that I would have to find my feet first. I always gave my all in training and in my cameo appearances, and now I’ve been rewarded for that. At some point along the line, I started to play more often and confirmed myself as a starter through my performances. And of course, my confidence grew with every goal I scored.

Before your move to Gladbach, you’d already played three top-flight games for TSG Hoffenheim in the 2017/18 season and 30 for Arminia Bielefeld in 2021/22. But would you say that now, at the age of 25, you’ve really arrived in the Bundesliga?

Hack: I’ve had a few ups and downs in my career. I wasn’t a regular at Arminia, and mostly came off the bench. I also hit the woodwork quite a lot there. I learnt a lot from those experiences. That helps me today. Since arriving at Borussia, I can’t complain about my situation. I feel really comfortable here and things are going well for me on the pitch. As a team, we obviously want more in terms of results, and on a personal note I want to continue my good performances.

How do you see your role within the team?

Hack: I’m at a bit of an intermediate stage between the older and younger players and I understand both sides of that coin very well. But I no longer consider myself one of the younger players, and I’d like to take the next step in my development by taking on more responsibility and leadership. I’ll never be the sort of player who shouts instructions on the pitch, but I’ll fulfil that role with commitment and passion.