Samassekou: "I hope we're back playing soon"

After joining Hoffenheim from RB Salzburg in the summer, injuries curtailed his start to life in the German top-flight. However, having played the full 90 minutes in five of Hoffenheim's eight Bundesliga outings since the turn of the year, the 24-year-old began to make his mark.

Sitting down for a virtual chat with bundesliga.com, Samassekou discusses the patience needed during the coronavirus, growing up with countryman and now Bundesliga rival, Amadou Haidara, and his hopes of playing again this season.

bundesliga.com: Like all Bundesliga players, Diadie Samassekou is currently working from home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. How is it going?

Diadie Samassekou: "Hi, everybody! Yeah, you're welcome. Of course, I always take time for you and everybody. Yeah, right now it's not so easy, it's a new situation for all of us. But we're trying our best to stay fit. We have home programmes. I'm healthy, I'm fit, and I think that's the most important at the moment."

bundesliga.com: How would you sum up your start at Hoffenheim after making the move from RB Salzburg in the summer?

Samassekou: "Yeah, I think the first months haven't been so easy as expected because I missed the pre-season because of the Africa Cup of Nations. And I also had this injury for two months, so it wasn't that easy. But I think right now I'm back, I'm fit, and I know how the team plays. I know the philosophy more. I'm fitting to the team step-by-step."

bundesliga.com: Hoffenheim's performances have been mixed under new head coach Alfred Schreuder. How close are the team to reaching their potential?

Samassekou: "Yeah, if you look, we're not where we wanted to be, but I think we can still reach our goals. Of course, we want to qualify for international football at the end of the season. I think the difficult games are a bit away from us now because we had like five, six tough games. But I understand the fans, I think they would like for us to play better, we also would like to play better but it is how it is, and they should continue to support us because we're also trying our best. We'll see when we'll play again. But I think if we do good, we can be in the top six, top seven at the end of the season."

bundesliga.com: You played alongside Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland at RB Salzburg. Have you been surprised by his start to life in the Bundesliga and are you still in contact?

Samassekou: "No, I'm not surprised, I played with him and we all know the player and the person. We all know that he'll be a top player one day. Of course, it was really fast and I think he himself was not expecting that it would go so fast for him. But yeah, I'm really happy for him. Of course, we're in contact, we write sometimes, he's a really nice guy. I hope he continues to improve, and I think he'll do that."

bundesliga.com: Does Haaland have what it takes to become a real superstar?     

Samassekou: "Yeah, for sure. He's almost now a superstar because of what he's doing now, not because of age, a lot of players aren't doing the same. I think he's one of the best players in the league right now."

bundesliga.com: You used to play alongside compatriot Amadou Haidara at RB Salzburg as well. Are you still in contact with the RB Leipzig player?

Samassekou: "Yeah, Amadou is like a brother for me, we talk every day. We started at the same academy. We came to Salzburg and we're here in the Bundesliga. He didn't have it the way he expected, because he's not playing the way he wanted. But I think he's doing well – when he gets time to play, he helps the team. I think that's the most important thing. He should continue to work and I'm sure his time will arrive."

bundesliga.com: What makes the friendship between yourself and Haidara so special?

Samassekou: "Yeah, as I told you, we started together in the same academy. We spent six years together, we were always together and of course, living in Salzburg we were the only two Malian boys there so then we became even closer. And now even when we're not together, we spend holidays together, we spend weekends together sometimes. So, as I said, he's like a brother for me now."

bundesliga.com: As one of the key players in the national team, you're a role model in Mali. You even managed a goal from a corner for Mali – do you think you will repeat this in the Bundesliga?

Samassekou: "Yeah, it was something we trained because we know that African goalkeepers like to go out of the position. Of course, it was a special situation because the wind was strong, so I just tried, one, two times. One time it went in the goal, second time it wasn't a goal. If you train, you always see that maybe sometimes you can do that."

bundesliga.com: What potential do you think the current Mali national team has looking ahead to the big tournaments?

Samassekou: "Right now, the most important is to continue to work because we're really a young, talented team. But the goals are to qualify for the next World Cup and also to do better than the last Africa Cup the next time."

bundesliga.com: What is the current sporting situation and social situation in Mali following the coronavirus outbreak?

Samassekou: "I wish it hadn't happened, but everyone has to know that it's really something serious. They have to take it seriously, everybody should stay at home, do what the doctors say, wash their hands, protect the face and do what's better for our health because that's the most important. Football and all these things are secondary right now. They should listen and do what is good for everybody."

bundesliga.com: How are you staying fit at home?

Samassekou: "We have special programmes, we have running programmes that we can do at home and everybody also got a bike so that we can ride at home. It's not so easy because we're not so used to it. But at the moment as I said, all these thoughts are secondary – the most important is to stay healthy. We try our best, for myself I try - because I live next to a forest - to go running in the morning and in the evening, I try to ride the bike to stay fit."

bundesliga.com: How much do you miss playing with a ball?

Samassekou: "Of course, I'm missing the ball so much – right now it's the thing we miss the most. Training alone it's okay, but it's always without the ball and I think for a football player, the most important thing is the ball. I think it's the first thing we'll use to get back into the groove when this is all over."

bundesliga.com: How does it work with the tactical sessions at home? How do the coaches stay in touch with the players?

Samassekou: "Yeah, right now we get some videos about the philosophy to still keep fit in our head. Also instructions, also private videos to see how we can improve during games. We're in contact with everybody and we're working normally – just everything at home."

bundesliga.com: How are you making use of the additional free time?

Samassekou: "Right now, as I said, we're all confined so I'm just at home watching TV with my girlfriend. I also play PlayStation a lot, I stay most of the time at home, that's it."

bundesliga.com: How are you handling the current situation? Are you generally a patient person?

Samassekou: "Yeah, I'm really patient because I think I'm used to staying at home and training, because I come from the academy life. At the moment, it fits a bit to my lifestyle because I'm not the type of guy who goes out a lot. So, for me it's okay."

bundesliga.com: Professional footballers and Bundesliga clubs have a responsibility to help where they can. What do you think of what Hoffenheim have done with the first-team squad, staff and directors waving salaries?

Samassekou: "It's a great thing. They're trying to help because it's important. It's not just about us, it's about everybody. When I heard what was happening, I was really, really, really happy. I'll do the same if I had the possibility, so I know what it is and I come from this place. I know how difficult it is there. For us it's a small thing, but it makes a big difference, so it's really, really great. I hope people will follow the steps of Hoffenheim and try to help more."

bundesliga.com: Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp has been supporting a number of initiatives including a project looking into a vaccine for coronavirus. What do you think of his efforts?

Samassekou: "Yeah, I think it's someone doing great. We can see living here what he built around us. I think what he did around here is something that can really help with sport, and with medicine. He's trying his best to make the region really nice. And I think people should support him. Not just talk about what he gets because all he got, he got from his work and we would all be happy to have what he has now. And not be jealous, and just see what he's doing and what he's doing is great."

bundesliga.com: What are you expecting from the Bundesliga re-start?

Samassekou: "At the moment, they say we'll start playing at the beginning of May and we hope it will be so. That's why we're trying to stay fit because of course, it's really long one month to wait. I think we'll get there."

bundesliga.com: Will the world outside of football change as a result of the lockdown?

Samassekou: "I don't know but you already see that the world is changing. People are now seeing the importance of the ties, because the ties make everything. I think we should also use this time to stay with people we love and to spend more time to do important things."