He is one of the surprises of the first half of the season at RB Leipzig! As a replacement for first-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi (32/Kreuzband), Janis Blaswich (31) impressed with consistently strong performances. The BILD interview.
BILD: Thursday Max Eberl starts at RB. You know him from Gladbach. How is your relationship?
Blaspwich: “In 2011 he gave me the chance to step into the professional field and opened the door for me. I’m just grateful for that and I’m happy that he’s back in football and active again.”
BILD: In July 2015 he lent you to Dresden. Did you think back then that you would play in the Champions League?
Blaspwich: “In sport, nothing is foreseeable. But you dreamed it and to be honest, I also set myself such goals. However, one does not imagine that they will come true and that dreams will come true.”
BILD: What dreams do you still have?
Blaspwich: “I keep the goals I set for myself to myself. There are a few, also high ones, but I just put them in for myself. And no matter which of the goals you achieve, there are always new things that come along and that you work towards.”
The keeper was part of Dynamo’s promotion team in the 2015/16 season and was on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach at the time
BILD: How important was the station at Dynamo for your development?
Blaspwich: “Very important, sportingly and personally. It’s the first time I’ve been away from the club I’ve been with for a very long time. It was a big step to play in front of such a large audience.”
BILD: Is there a difference between the Dynamo keeper Blaswich and today?
Blaspwich: “The complete package, I would say. Through the experience I have matured, also and especially through my stay abroad in Almelo in the Netherlands. I don’t want to say that I was still a little boy in Dresden, but things have changed a bit since then…”
BILD: Why did you actually become a goalkeeper?
Blaspwich: “As a child, I tried out all the positions. But I liked it the most in goal, that’s where I had the most fun. Especially since my father used to be a goalkeeper too. That was also a bit of a deciding factor.”
BILD: Peter Gulacsi’s cruciate ligament rupture made you number 1 in Leipzig…
Blaspwich: “Basically, you don’t wish anyone an injury in order to come to games. It all came as a surprise. Of course I wish Pete that he gets fit again quickly, that’s for sure. I made a conscious decision to move to Leipzig – even as number 2. Leipzig is a top club in the Bundesliga with a lot of quality and soccer skills. That’s why I didn’t have to think long, also with the thought that you don’t play as many games as in the years before.”
Pure ecstasy!!! This filling jug goal makes Germany tremble
BILD: How is your contact with the injured Hungary?
Blaspwich: “Sometimes we train together in the weight room and we’re just an incredibly positive team of goalkeepers, which is also very important for success. It’s also good for the team that we’re all present and pushing each other, even in a difficult phase when you’re injured. You can also benefit from that if you stick together in such phases and are there for each other.”
BILD: You recently shone with top saves, but seem very calm. what makes you so strong
Blaspwich: “There’s no secret about it. I’ve also played a lot at a good level in recent years. It wasn’t at an international level like here at RB Leipzig, but I still played my games and got what I need in the current situation.”
BILD: The league is on hiatus, but you need to keep training. Does that bother you?
Blaspwich: “It’s different when you’re working towards a league game, but it just keeps us in the juice. It is important that we are not free for too long now so that we can work well again in January and prepare for the months to come.”
BILD: What do you like off the soccer field?
Blaspwich: “It’s hard to sum it up, but just do a lot, see new things and cities and just think about other things with the family. Traveling is our thing, it’s my calming influence, it calms me down a bit and it’s a good counterbalance to high-performance sport.”
Mertesacker and Kramer ZDF presenter films intimate anthem moment
BILD: Has it already been decided which cities you will visit during the winter break?
Blaspwich: No, not yet. We decide that spontaneously.
BILD: When would it be a successful season for you?
Blaspwich: “Of course we’re trying to defend the title in the DFB Cup. It is also important to have these goals. I find the role as a hunter very interesting and the international business, I’ve tasted blood for myself.”
BILD: At the start of the year you could get even closer to Bayern…
Blaswich: “Yeah, it’s definitely nice that it’s our turn and we can make it even closer, that makes the duel even more special. It will be a highlight game, but the other games are just as important. If you beat a big one but don’t score there, the points aren’t worth that much anymore.”