Akaki Gogia’s second attempt at Dynamo Dresden is not yet going to plan, but the full-back has matured as a person.
Dresden – they would prefer Akaki Gogia (30) stayed in Turkey for a few more weeks. Because on artificial turf training has Dynamo Dresden Off-piste players only have little desire.
Akaki Gogia (30, in front) really wants to restart in the second part of the season. Liveliness was also worked on in the retreat. © Lutz Hentschel
This is due to his serious knee injury since the end of September 2019. “At the time I tore my cruciate ligament in Union Berlin on an artificial pitch. I don’t like training,” the 30-year-old admits.
In Belek, on the other hand, the conditions were ideal for him. “We would have loved to stay longer, but only if the family followed through,” says Gogia, who is now a father of two.
The two-year-old daughter and ten-month-old son have changed a lot for the Georgian-German. “Of course I’m annoyed if we don’t win. But with the kids at home it’s different. You come home, they want to play, there’s even a dog,” explains “Andy”.
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Life priorities change with a family and the ala is no exception. Even in the field Gogia is no longer the same.
“Of course I’m different too. I have two kids at home, I’m much older. But I’m still trying to score goals and provide good assists like I did back then. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out yet, but I’m still trying!”
With Akaki Gogia the knot has not yet broken out
In the test against Sampdoria Genoa, Akaki Gogia (30, right) didn’t really get going. © Lutz Hentschel
Zero goals and zero assists in nine games is the lean prey so far following his return to Rudolf Harbig Stadium.
For comparison: At his last match in Dresden in the 2016/17 season there were ten goals and two assists in 24 games.
The knot hasn’t broken out yet, and Gogia knows it too, “of course comparisons continue to be made here. But the conditions were completely different. There was a different coach, there were different players, a different system. You can do it easily.” do not compare.”
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However, Gogia works hard to get some scorer points again. In the two friendlies in Turkey it hasn’t worked yet.
“But it’s not annoying,” said the outsider. “As long as we win in the end, I don’t care if I score or someone else. I try to help as much as possible.”
But “Andy” is also working on his liveliness. “You don’t necessarily get faster as you get older. But you don’t have to slow down,” he jokes. If Gogia remains so positive, everything else is just a matter of time.
