bundesliga.de: Mister Ishiaku, congratulatons on the win in Bielefeld and your seventh goal of the season. How important were the three points against a relegation rival?

Manasseh Ishiaku: Thanks! The win was very important for our team, a defeat would have left us with a seven-point gap on 15th place. Now we're just one point away and finally were rewarded with three points, after we had conceded some late goals lately.

bundesliga.de: You scored for the second successive match, but before that you didn't score since round 8. Why?

Ishiaku: I had a flying start with two goals in the opening round and another brace on matchday 4. But I had thigh problems again and again and that affected me mentally. Now my son Jayden was born in January, I'm 100% fit and the luck in front of goal has returned. I hope it stays that way.

bundesliga.de: Your goalscoring celebrations are really special. Where do these gymnastic abilities come from?

Ishiaku: I've learned that in Nigeria when I was still a little boy. Back then me and my friends did all kinds of gymnastic exercises on the street. I even was so good that I joined a gymnastics club. My coach wanted to keep and advance me by all means, but football was more fun.

bundesliga.de: Aren't you afraid of picking up an injury celebrating like that?

Ishiaku: No, it's in my blood since my childhood and nothing's ever happened to me. Even if it may look dangerous for others.

bundesliga.de: It's your first season in the Bundesliga. What's your conclusion with 21 matches gone?

Ishiaku: You always have to be 100% fit and go to the limit in the Bundesliga. It wasn't like that in Belgium where I played for FC Bruges. Only four or five matches were really hard back there. The level in the Bundesliga is an awful lot higher. Almost every stadium is modern and big. It's really fun to play here.

bundesliga.de: Who has been your toughest marker so far, and why?

Ishiaku: I always try to play my game and to come out on top. I don't pay special attention to my markers. I don't care who plays against me, so no one crosses my mind at the moment.

bundesliga.de: You make the trip to Berlin in the next round. What do you think about the match?

Ishiaku: I think we still have a score to settle from the first leg when we were very unfortunate to lose 2-1. We need points from every game in our current situation, in Berlin too.

Questions: Denis Huber / Translation: Christof Greiner