Serhou Guirassy: "I can do even better"

bundesliga.com: What are you looking forward to in the clash against Leverkusen?

Serhou Guirassy: "First of all, they're one of the best teams in the league. We saw how fantastic they were last season. It's a big game, and we are good at big games. We can't wait to be there."

bundesliga.com: What do you think about your opposite number at Leverkusen, Patrik Schick?

Guirassy: "He's a great striker, without question. He's always scoring, and it will be our job to stop him."

bundesliga.com: Do you know who has set up most of your goals?

Guirassy: "All goals are the product of our teamwork, but regarding assists, I would say it was probably Jamie [Gittens]."

bundesliga.com: Correct! What do you think about the progress he has made?

Guirassy: "He's a young, talented player, and he knows it. Given his young age, he still needs to learn when exactly to dribble and when to pass, but he's getting better and better."

Watch: Guirassy & Gittens - Dortmund’s double G-Force

bundesliga.com: Can you remember what you felt when you scored your first goals at Signal Iduna Park?

Guirassy: "It was a special moment to score my first goals at home. But it's more important to me to win games as a team."

bundesliga.com: It got loud, didn't it?

Guirassy: "Absolutely. We have the best supporters in Germany. It's always a pleasure to play there."

Watch: All of Guirassy's Bundesliga goals for Dortmund

bundesliga.com: You are currently sixth in the league. What needs to improve?

Guirassy: "Everything can be improved, especially regarding our collective play. We've made some progress in the last games, but we have to keep improving this year and win as many games as we can."

bundesliga.com: The win in Wolfsburg was important, wasn't it?

Guirassy: "Very important, as it was our last game before the winter break. We were able to relax, and now we are ready to keep going."

bundesliga.com: Can you describe the difference in playing style between Stuttgart and Dortmund, and how your role has changed?

Guirassy: "It's quite simple. At Stuttgart, we focused on possession. Here at Dortmund, possession is also one of our strengths, but we attack in a much quicker way, which explains why we sometimes don't seem to have the ball under control. It's a mix of possession and quick attacks."

Watch: All 28 of Guirassy's goals for Stuttgart last season

bundesliga.com: What are your goals for the rest of the season?

Guirassy: "We're too low in the league at the moment. We want to qualify for the Champions League, because that's where Dortmund belongs. That's our common goal, which is more important than any of our individual ambitions: to win as a team, and finish as high as possible in the league."

bundesliga.com: Harry Kane is again at the top of the scorers chart. Is it possible to catch him?

Guirassy: "He is reachable, but he is a fantastic striker, as everyone knows. As I said, the team's success is what matters most; and my goal is to help the team succeed."

bundesliga.com: Is there a goal of yours or a game that has been the highlight of your career so far?

Guirassy: "Hard to tell, but that would probably be my goal for Guinea against Congo, not so long ago."

bundesliga.com: Do you feel like you have become an ambassador for Guinea?

Guirassy: "I believe I am an example for Guineans, especially for the youth. Children look up to professional athletes, and we enjoy putting a smile on their faces with the national team."

bundesliga.com: Does that make you proud?

Guirassy: "Absolutely. There is no greater honour than being seen as an ambassador for your country."

bundesliga.com: What does it mean to you to have been nominated by CAF as Player of the Year?

Guirassy: "It shows that my hard work is paying off, even though I would have preferred to win the Africa Cup of Nations. I will keep working for that." 

bundesliga.com: What do you see as your biggest strengths?

Guirassy: "I'm quite strong with my back to goal, but I also like to go deep inside the opponents' defence. In order to score, a striker needs to run a lot and give their all physically. It's important to have those qualities, but I believe I can do even better."

bundesliga.com: It seems your game is not just about scoring, but also playing well as a team, isn't it?

Guirassy: "I obviously love scoring goals, but I also like to participate in the team's build-up play. I try to play like Karim Benzema; we have a similar style."

bundesliga.com: And you're very good with your head, aren't you?

Guirassy: "Earlier in my career, I wasn't that strong with headers. But I worked on it, and I've been scoring more that way in recent years. It's important to be able to score in multiple ways."