Gökhan Inler: "TSG are a really good side"

From Besiktas to Basaksehir, what were the reasons for your move in the summer?

Gökhan Inler: I wanted to get more game time than I was getting at Besiktas – that was the first reason. I had a few offers – from Switzerland and Italy too – but Basaksehir seemed the best fit for me. I signed a three-year contract and the club is really ambitious. The club has grown a lot in the last few years, it has been invested in smartly – for instance in their own youth academy. Also I wanted to play on the European stage. I like it a lot and I feel comfortable here.

You narrowly missed out on making the Champions League group stages, losing to Sevilla. Does that tie still play on your mind?

Inler: Of course we thought about it for a while. We were a shot on goal away from progressing. It was a brilliant result for such a young club like Basaksehir against a team as good as Sevilla. The only thing that matters at the end is the result but we can be proud of our display. No we’re in the Europa League and we want to be successful in the competition. Unfortunately it hasn’t gone that well so far but we’re optimistic and looking forward.

Adebayor, Clichy, Emre, Elia – they are all big names in international football…

Inler: They are. They are all good players with lots of experience who can help this fairly new club in numerous ways. On and off the pitch. Lots of us have had long and successful careers. Lots of different languages are spoken in the team. It doesn’t stop the team from having a great chemistry, though. The club has a brilliant future.

You’ve played in Switzerland, Italy and England during your career – how would you compare the quality in those leagues to that of the Turkish league?

Inler: The Süper Lig hasn’t always been regarded in Europe as a league with lots of quality but that has changed in recent years. Good teams play good football here and more and more internationally-known players are coming to the league. So the quality of the league is improving all the time.

You recently said that you’d like to play for the Swiss national team again.

Inler: For me, the national team is a personal goal and as long as I’m still fit and active as a footballer, that will always remain a target. For a long time, I was the captain of the side. Whether I get the call-up again firstly depends on my performances but that is not the only factor. It has to work in terms of the other players in the squad and where I fit in. I will always work towards that goal.

You are fourth in the league, but winless in Europa so far. How happy are you with your start to the season?

Inler: We are on the right track but it would’ve been good to have picked up two or three more points in both competitions. The loss in Braga in the Europa League was unlucky. I don’t really like to reflect on those sorts of things, I like to look ahead. The next game is always the most important one.

How well do you know TSG and what sort of game are you anticipating on Thursday?

Inler: I know the team and a few of the players quite well. Steven Zuber, for example, who plays for Switzerland. And of course, Andrej Kramaric. I played with him at Leicester and we often did individual training sessions together. He is a true professional, a good footballer and a great guy. I look forward to seeing him and playing against him. TSG play really good football. They could’ve got more from the first leg against Liverpool in the Champions League playoffs and possibly progressed. Hoffenheim have a great coach who, which I can say as an outsider, knows how his players tick. They are a really good team and we’ll have to be compact and firm against them. Hoffenheim have developed really quickly in such a short space of time. I’m looking forward to a great game against them.

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