Bundesliga: „I was only focusing on my shot reaching the goal area” – Szoboszlai on the second goal against Stuttgart

– Two goals and a magnificent game. Did head coach Jesse Marsch ask for something like that before the game against Stuttgart?
– It's not like that. He didn't ask for anything special; he just told me to bring the best out of myself – told Nemzeti Sport Dominik Szoboszlai, who made his first starting lineup appearance for Leipzig and scored two goals, the day after the 4–0 win over VfB Stuttgart. – He told me to run as much as I can and do everything for the team. Luckily, I had a pretty good day, but I also needed the team for it. Everyone fought for each other, the game was smooth, which the result shows. Although the 4-0 win seems like a smooth match, we worked hard to win our first home league game.

– What could make you fit into the team so quickly? According to Deutsche Welle, you were moving well between the lines and were accurate in the overall game as well.
– It helped a lot that I started my summer training with the team. I play with Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán in the national team, and I know Amadou Haidara from Salzburg. This made me integrate easier, and I quickly got on the same wavelength as the others.

– When did you find out you were in the starting lineup?
– Let's just say that the starting lineup was getting outlined about two days before the clash.

– How excited were you before the first home game?
– I'm not the nervous type, so I was fretting about it now either.

– What was on your mind before the first goal? According to DW, "No more passes, I'm not waiting any longer for the opportunity."
– Something like that. But the truth is, the ball reception wasn't perfect. After I touched the ball, I pushed it too outward, rather than pushing it inward. Anyway, the opportunity was still there, so I thought I'd try. Luckily, it worked.

– Weren't you surprised that Willi Orbán grabbed you by the throat right away as part of the goal joy?
– I sensed that the others were running behind me, and anything could happen... But I thought I'd just endure it somehow.

– Your second goal was born from a free kick at an angle from which it was a feat to score.
– A few minutes earlier, we had taken a free kick from almost the same place. I was arching the ball in the direction of the long corner and looking for Willi's head; he usually wins the head duels. Before my goal, we stood up in the same way so Stuttgart would think we wanted to do the same formation again. Before kicking the ball, however, I told Willi to move to the middle instead, and I tried to shoot the ball sharply in front of the goal in case anyone could touch it. I was only focusing on my shot reaching the goal area, but it wasn't a classic goal shot; it was meant to be a pass.



– Will you be responsible for the free kicks from now on?
– I don't know the answer to that. That can change in every game, and it only depends on Jesse Marsch.

– What was on your mind at the moment of substituting you when the audience rewarded your game with frenetic applause?
– I was delighted to introduce myself to the Leipzig fans with a good game. Obviously, every player would be happy to be chosen the player of the match. After the final whistle, I gave a few interviews, and the teammates also congratulated me in the dressing room. However, the story ends here because we have to go on to win the away league match against Wolfsburg.

– I know that you always look ahead, but since you've struggled with injury for six months, don't you feel like you should enjoy moments like this better?
– Believe me, I enjoy it to the fullest on the pitch. I was already happy to finally play and have spectators at matches after the closed-door period. It was just the cherry on top that I scored two goals. Right now, the minutes of play are the most important.

– How difficult was it for the team to pull yourselves together after losing Mainz?
– Fortunately, we responded well to what happened. It was in our minds that after a bad start we had to fight to earn the respect of our rivals again. We played for the fans and each other.

BUNDESLIGA
ROUND 2
RB LEIPZIG–VFB STUTTGART 4–0 (1–0)
Leipzig,Red Bull Arena.Referee:Badstübner
RB LEIPZIG:Gulácsi – Klostermann, Orbán (Mukiele, 76.), Simakan, Gvardiol – T. Adams, Haidara (Sabitzer, 69.) – Szoboszlai (Laimer, 69.), E. Forsberg, Nkunku (Poulsen, 82.) – André Silva (Hwang Hee Chan, 69.).Head coach:Jesse Marsch
STUTTGART:F. Müller – Mavropanos (Stenzel, 84.), Anton, Kempf – Massimo, Klement (Millot, 73.), Endo, Sosa – Förster (Thommy, 81.), Klimowicz (Kalajdzic, 73.) – Al Ghaddioui (Didavi, during break).Head coach:Pellegrino Matarazzo
Goal scorers:Szoboszlai (38., 52.), E. Forsberg (46.), André Silva (65. – from penalty)

Translated by Vanda Orosz