West Ham’s Haller: “Only thing you can do as a player is to give all your power and energy”

In 2017, Eintracht Frankfurt signed Sébastien Haller for €7 million – two years later, they made a transfer profit of €33 million with the 25-year-old, when West Ham signed him for a record fee. In an exclusive Transfermarkt interview, the forward talks about the London club, former and current teammates and his new playing style.  

Transfermarkt: Mr. Haller, you did great in the Eredivisie, you did great in the Bundesliga – why was the Premier League the next logical step?

Sebastién Haller: It happened because I had the possibility, it was maybe obvious for me to come to West Ham after everything I experienced at Frankfurt.

Transfermarkt: Is the Bundesliga Europe’s new stepping stone for players on the rise?

Haller: I think, there is a different way of managing clubs, you can find a different structure in the Bundesliga. The German clubs bet more on young players and don’t focus on the most expensive. They buy talents on the cheap and try to make them better. Maybe young players have more opportunities there to pick up enough match practice.

Transfermarkt: You are the club’s record signing. Is that more of a burden or an honour?

Haller: It depends on the perspective. If you perform successfully, everything is fine. If you miss your targets, you will be criticised. The only thing you can do as a player is to give all your power and energy. It’s up to yourself.

Transfermarkt: Did you know any of your West Ham teammates before the transfer?

Haller: Yes, I knew Issa Diop, because we played together in the French U21 national team. But it’s not enough that we can say that we were friends.

Transfermarkt: Did he convince you of the move?

Haller: Not personally, I didn’t really talk to him before signing, but I saw his style of play and knew his qualities. Of course, he gave me the impulse to join the club.

Transfermarkt: Luka Jovic went to Real Madrid, Ante Rebic to Milan – did the three of you talk about moving to bigger clubs during your successful season?

Haller: Of course, you talk about different things, but we didn’t speak a lot about that. I think it’s a target of many Frankfurt players to play a good season for maybe going higher. We knew that we maybe need to change the club one day, but we loved to play for Frankfurt. It was a great time. As a footballer you always want a challenge.

Transfermarkt: In Frankfurt you were always good for a joke. Are you now the funniest guy in West Ham’s squad?

Haller: No, no. I take my time. Maybe in time I’ll make more jokes. At West Ham, there are some good guys. Michail Antonio is a positive guy, he makes you smile.

Transfermarkt: From Utrecht with 350,000 inhabitants to Frankfurt with 800,000 to London with 9 million. How did your life change in the big city?

Haller: You can always recognise the differences between a smaller and a bigger city. It helps us to know what we like and what we don’t like. It’s always good to travel and learn about other cultures.

West Ham’s record signing not recognised often - Tough duels in the Premier League

Transfermarkt: Can you go to the bakery without your autograph cards?

Haller: Yeah, but I don’t go to the bakery (laughing).  I don’t have a lot of time to go out, because the days are different compared to my time in Germany. But it can happen that people recognise me, but not as often.

Transfermarkt: Who was the toughest defender you played against in the Premier League and in your whole career?

Haller: In the Premier League, every game and every defender is tough (laughing). It’s very difficult to find an answer.

Transfermarkt: You were involved in the most duels in Europe's top leagues. Did you know this fact?

Haller: No, simply not (laughing).

Transfermarkt: Is it part of your playing style?

Haller: It became. In the past, I changed my playing style, I learned to be like that. It’s part of my job, because I am the first defender. It’s always a good thing to win the ball high up, you get more opportunities to score.

Transfermarkt: West Ham were the second Premier League side after Southampton to reach an agreement over wage deferrals with their players. Do you feel obliged to the club’s non-playing staff in such a difficult situation?

Haller: It was important for us to help, because at West Ham, we know and feel that the people that work here are very happy to be here and to work for us. We want to make sure that everyone is able to get a normal life. Of course, it was a pleasure to help them. But it’s not just the club. Other players also have opportunities to help in their countries, everybody is trying to do something in his own way.

Transfermarkt: What do you think about a continuation of the season?

Haller: To be honest, it’s a completely new situation, everyone knows that. Due to time pressure, it’s complicated to finish the current season and start the new season in a normal way. The most important thing is the health of everyone. There is also a chance to play without fans – but this is not why we have chosen to play for this club. You ideally want to play with fans and with the atmosphere and everything around it.

Interview: Philipp Marquardt (PhilippMrq)

This interview was arranged thanks to the support of Betway, the official sponsor of West Ham United