Arrival at FC Metz at the winter break, the German-Turkish Melike Pekel who plays with the national team of Turkey, has already scored 5 goals with his new team. Gifted with real power in his game, Pekel has football in his blood. A player who does not let go and who has clearly marked the club by his talent. Interview.



Hearts of Foot - How did your adaptation with Metz?
Melike Pekel - It went well. The girls have welcomed me very well. It's a good team with good girls, who have talent and play good football.

Football Hearts - What's the difference for you between the French game and the German game?
M.P. - I think that there is the same level in the first division between France and Germany, but I think that there is a better level of the second division in Germany than the French D2. But the Frauen Bundesliga and the D1 Feminine have the same level.

Football Hearts - Okay, so what was your goal when you came to Metz?
M.P. - I wanted to take a step forward, progress in my game, I think I managed that by coming here. It's a good change for me, [it's possible] to do better.

Football Hearts - You said in an interview with the DFB I believe that a player like Vivianne Miedema, it was good for your ambition?
M.P. - Yes she is a good player, yes.

Soccer Hearts - When you played with her at Bayern, did you have an eye on what she was doing?
M.P. - No, I think I have a good level and she also has a good level too. I can learn from her, and she can just as much learn from me.

Football Hearts - When we interviewed David Fanzel, he told me he wanted an attacker who scores for his team, to get back into the race to maintain. Is it something that puts pressure on you or boosts you?
M.P. - No, I think I have a job to do with the [FC Metz] team. It's not easy but I'm motivated and I know I can score.

Soccer Hearts - Ok, and when you played with Bayern, was it all good for you?
M.P. - I learned a lot with Bayern Munich. It's a very good thing for me to be in this club, because we really have very professional training. It's different here [in France].

Football Hearts - Having come to Metz playing D1 Feminine, is it also a way to attract more attention to you? That of the French media? Because you played with the Bayern reserve, so playing in the first division in France, it brings you perhaps a greater visibility?
Mr. P. - Yes, yes. Because when I was in Munich, I knew I had the qualities to play first league, but they never gave me the chance to prove it. So I was happy to make this change, coming to Metz, it was good for me, it was good for the team [Messina]. We've had a lot of very good games [since].

Soccer Hearts - You scored 5 goals since that's true. This is a good satisfaction for you?
M.P. - (smile) Yes I am happy (laughs) for having scored 5 goals.

Hearts of Foot - Your last victory was against Saint-Etienne last Saturday, where you will even score the double of your third success.
M.P. - Yes it was good because if we had lost this match [against ASSE] it was over for us, so it was great to have won.

Football Hearts - What are you waiting for this season with Metz finally?
MP - I knew coming here, that Metz was in last place [synonymous with relegation] and when I came I promised myself to change something [to this situation] to do everything I could to this team. Yes to do something good, with the girls of course, as a team, all together, to make good matches.

Football Hearts - To talk about the Turkish national team. How's it going for you?
M.P. - (smile) Yes I am lucky [to be there]. During qualifying at the 2019 World Cup, we made three games, with two wins and the last we lost 2-1 ... I think we had a bad match (sigh) but we had a bad referee in this meeting (head down) and everything went wrong for us. It's life. In football it happens all the time. You win, you lose (shakes your shoulders).

Soccer Hearts - What is the vision of women's football in Turkey?
M.P. - In Turkey? There is not a big level today. It's not like in France or Germany, but maybe in the next five years it could improve, I hope so because there are talented players who have the qualities to play at a high level, in Europe.

Soccer Hearts - Having seen you play, we can appreciate your level, which is very good. How did you acquire this level? With Bayern? Because I know that you were spotted by the Munich club while you were playing with Another club just before, where you made a sensation.Mr. - Yes I played with a third-tier team before Bayern and I scored a lot of goals with this club. They saw my statistics and that's when they contacted me to join them. Football fans - Do you want to go back to Bayern or stay here next season? M.P. - (laughs, embarrassed) Uh yes it's a difficult question ... (hesitation) It's hard to say ... (hesitation) I do not know (smile). A big THANK YOU to Getter Laar who was good to us helped during this interview.Photo: Rene Bach