Hanno Balitsch, during your time at Bayer Leverkusen Rainer Calmund said of you: „If he plays out of position he needs a compass just to find the changing rooms“. It goes without saying that this wasn't true against Hamburg… 

Hanno Balitsch: The match he was referring to was my Champions League debut, when I was 21. I played at right-back and the guy I was marking scored a hattrick. Obviously I had an off day. But you learn how to cope with these sorts of things as you get older, and fortunately it worked well with Christian Schulz on Saturday.

But is your favourite position still holding midfielder?

Hanno Balitsch: Yes, I see myself as a defensive midfielder primarily, that's where I prefer to play. You have to be really defensive as a centre-back, although you face similar types of challenge there as in defensive midfield.

Quickly back to the HSV game - was it a big relief to get the win?

Hanno Balitsch: We'll see how important it was in two weeks after we've played Köln und Bochum. Hopefully then we'll be able to look back and say it was a turning point. Obviously three points are three points, but they are more valuable if you can follow them up with a good run of results.
 
Why have 96 done so well against the "big boys" this season?

Hanno Balitsch: When you play against teams that are more highly rated you're not forced to take the game to them. You can build from a solid, compact defence. The home match against VfL Bochum will be very different - they'll sit deep and expect us to come onto them. It will be harder work than the Hamburg game.

Strong but elegant: Hanno Balitsch

Let's look ahead to your next opponents, FC Köln. You played for them for a year back in 2001. Do you still have many links with the city? 

Hanno Balitsch: I actually lived there for three years in total, as I kept my flat there when I was playing for Bayer Leverkusen, so obviously I still have lots of friends in the city. There are still a few people at the club who I know as well, like Matthias Scherz and Carsten Cullmann. I looking forward to going back.

How do you rate FC Köln at the moment? Who should we be keeping an eye on?

Hanno Balitsch: They've been very compact and well organised this season. Both Mohamad and Geromel have been very impressive. And obviously with the likes of Milivoje Novakovic they're dangerous going forward as well. I would say that the consistency that previously typified the club is now coming back.

Many thanks for the chat Hanno!

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