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Without David Alaba, without Marko Arnautovic: In the absence of the two main stars, Marcel Sabitzer must also play a leading role in the Austrian team. The 26-year-old has had a very strong season with RB Leipzig and was elected captain of the Champions League semi-finalists. He sees the upcoming Nations League primarily as an opportunity to prepare for 2021.
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Sabitzer entered the ÖFB camp with great dignity. For the first time he was chosen as the “Team of the Season” of the Champions League. “That’s one of the best you can achieve as a player,” the Styrian told a press meeting in Klagenfurt on Tuesday. “It reflects the performance. So these are very beautiful and eventful moments. I am happy, of course, but I want to continue.”
Sabitzer looks at MS
The fact that the ÖFB team’s eyes are now increasingly on him is of little consequence to Sabitzer. Rather, it is the goals that are pending. The eight internationals in the fall should be used to get ready for qualification for the World Cup and the European Championship in 2021. “You don’t break a leg if you try something and it doesn’t work,” said the midfielder.
Due to the numerous failures, the new players could also appear in the Nations League matches on Friday in Norway and on Monday in Klagenfurt against Romania. “Then you can get an idea of what they are capable of at this level.” Sabitzer has already tested it. In the last qualification for the European Championship, he scored two goals and five assists in nine games.
“We have to prepare well as a team to be able to play a good tournament next year,” emphasized the Graz native. At the same time, they are also striving for good results in the Nations League. “Of course we don’t want to be relegated now. If you lose a match, you will learn from it. But of course we want to win every match.”
Heavy load on the player
The situation in the next year is new if only important qualifying matches for the World Cup remain due to Corona’s postponements against MS. “He has no experience with it. You have little time to try something, you don’t have that,” Sabitzer said. Then there is the burden for the players. “We all have a very difficult season ahead in the clubs. So it will be interesting to see how much grains you still have in your tank in June.”
The break this summer was extremely short. There was a week for the Leipzig players after the semi-finals in the Champions League holidays. 17 days after the 3-0 draw against Paris Saint-Germain, Sabitzer is back on the pitch in Oslo. “You have to take into account the circumstances if things do not go well,” said the 42 times international (7 goals). “You have to make the most of it. I am motivated to have another good season. That is my focus.”
In Leipzig, Sabitzer acts almost exclusively in the often defensive central midfield. In the ÖFB team, he also liked a more offensive role. “I see myself in the center, not somewhere in the band,” said the Austrian footballer of the year 2017. If six, eight or ten does not matter to him. “I’ll talk to the coach about his ideas and then we’ll see if we can find a common denominator.”
Team boss Franco Foda is also looking for attacking wingers for the first international matches of the year. With Alaba, Valentino Lazaro, Florian Kainz, Alessandro Schöpf and Konrad Laimer, who have also held this position in the ÖFB team, several high-profile options are missing. Sabitzer expects new strengths, but is also confident in 2021: “With the team, when everyone is fit, I am optimistic that we can play a good European championship.” Better than in 2016, when it was also part of early retirement in France.
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