Killian Corredor has been wearing the Lily on his chest for almost a year. For the Frenchman, who moved to South Hesse in August 2024, this is his first summer preseason with SV 98. We met the 24-year-old at the training camp in Bad Wörishofen to talk about his first year as a Lily. In an interview with sv98.de, Corredor discusses his strong scoring stats, the differences between football in France and Germany, and his ongoing preseason. He also reveals why he enjoys being fouled and the importance of head coach Florian Kohfeldt for his development.
sv98.de: Killian, before we talk about last season and the current preseason. Anyone who’s seen your vacation photos might have gotten the impression that you’ve supplied all of France with Corredor jerseys…
Killian Corredor: (laughs) That’s true, my entire family and friends own Darmstadt jerseys and wear them often in their free time. I’ve probably bought 100 already. And now we have the new jersey, which I really like because of its vintage style. I’ll probably have to buy 200 of them. (laughs) It makes me very happy when family and friends wear the jersey and show that they’re proud of me and want to support me in this way.
In general, the support from your hometown seems to be great. Your parents are also often in Darmstadt…
Exactly, my parents and my friends are in Darmstadt regularly, and they even attended three home games. My girlfriend lives with me in Darmstadt anyway. My family is very passionate about football; my little brother is also a professional. We talk to each other every day; I’m a bit of a role model for him, too.
How satisfied was your family with your first season in Darmstadt?
Very satisfied. It was my first year outside of France, but it was decent.
So you’re also quite happy with your first season? 14 points is a strong haul, after all.
Yes, it was a good season for me. I was also very happy that I played in every game after my transfer. Nevertheless, I hope my next season will be even better. Eight goals and six assists are a good haul, but why shouldn’t I also be able to score ten goals and provide ten assists? (laughs)
What are you more pleased about: scoring or assisting?
I love both. So there’s no favourite.
What was your best goal for Darmstadt so far?
The goal against Fürth. A beautiful goal, and also my first goal for Darmstadt.
What differences have you noticed in general between football in France and Germany?
The intensity is different. The players are physically stronger than in France, and the game is very tough. However, I also think the referees in Germany are better. And the stadiums are, of course, incredible.
You mentioned physicality. Last season, you were the second-most fouled player in the league. Doesn’t that get annoying sometimes?
No, I like it. (grins) I love dribbling, and when I get fouled, it always feels like a small victory. Because I showed in that duel that I’m better.
Now let’s look ahead. You’re completing your first summer preseason with Darmstadt. How have the weeks so far been going?
I’m enjoying it. I feel very good and satisfied. Sometimes you get a little tired, but that’s normal at this stage. The anticipation for next season is much greater.
Compared to last summer, not much has changed in the squad; a few players left, some joined. How do you personally view the team?
It’s a very good team. I think it’s important that most of the team has stayed together. And the new signings are really good players.
You spend a lot of time with Merveille Papela and Jean-Paul Boëtius, who both speak French. You always seem to have a lot of fun…
They’ve become good friends and have helped me integrate even better into the team. My initial time here wasn’t easy because of the language, I admit. But that changed thanks to the help of Mey and then Djanga. My English has also improved; I understand a lot more now and can communicate more easily with all the players. So it’s not like I only talk to them (laughs).
You also share a room with Djanga. Is there ever any peace and quiet there?
No, never. (laughs) He’s crazy, but an amazing guy.
Florian Kohfeldt also speaks French. How important is he for you and your development overall?
It helps me a lot that the coach speaks French. It makes it much easier to understand his instructions and advice. Overall, he’s helped me a lot with my development. Before my move, I was always a central striker; here I play a different role. But it’s working well, especially because the coach helps me a lot.
The first few days of training camp are now over. What do you still want to work on here?
On everything. There’s still a lot to do. For each individual player, but of course also for the entire team. We want to be ready for the start of the season and are working hard for that. On our defensive processes. And on our offensive game.
What do you do between intensive training sessions?
I sleep a lot. (laughs) But I also watch Wimbledon and, of course, the Tour de France.
Who is your favourite rider?
Pogacar. He’s incredible.
You’ve also known for a few weeks that the season opens with a game against relegated Bundesliga team Bochum. How are you feeling about the opening game?
I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to our stadium and our fans. We want to start the season with a win.
How important would three points be at the start?
Three points are always the goal. A win would obviously be a good feeling to start the season, so we’re doing everything we can to deliver our best performance on this day.
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A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
