BL: This is how the defender of Fradi Messi and C. Ronaldo had no shirt

Marcel Heister during the warm-up (Photo: Hédi Tumbász)

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From the interview, we learn that Marcel Heister, then 20 years old, left Hoffenheim in 2012, disappointed, he felt cheated. “I wanted to leave Germany”, Thus, through his family connections, he moved to Zadar, Croatia, from there he lives his career as a series of advances.

“I signed my first major Zadar contract with NK Istra, I also got good money, I was able to play in the Europa League qualifiers with Jerusalem, I made it to the Europa League and then to the group stage of the Champions League with Ferencváros – summed up his career so far Marcel Heister. “With each shift, I went one step further, just as I had dreamed of.” All along, I believed that I could achieve my goals even if I didn’t follow the usual path. Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to meet many people, different cultures, languages, to accumulate many, many experiences. These are for life, they are very important to me and no one can take them away ”.

Although Heister began his career as a forward at the time, he had a left-back assignment ahead of him as a teenager; Reutlingen coach Marco Campanale at least predicted for himself and his parents: Trust me, a boy will be a left back!

“I don’t even know which of us laughed the loudest since I was a blood striker. “Once someone joins the team as a left-back, I stop playing football immediately,” was my reply. Heister gave life to the beginnings, which later had to be swallowed by this frog in Croatia. “They wanted to try that position at all costs, and after the first few games, I was afraid of sinking into a deep depression. I never shot at goal, I just pass, pass … And today I can’t imagine another post for myself … (Name) Nothing better could have happened to me. “

Marcel Heister against Barcelona (Photo: Attila Török)

He preserves as positive memory both the Croatian and Israeli periods, lamenting only the circumstances of his departure from Jerusalem: the president of Beitar did not keep his word: although he wanted to return to Europe, his contract was unilaterally extended for a year against his will . The break in the legal path was bitter, but the solution, the Ferencváros certificate, was very well done.

“He offered to sell to various teams. At that time, I had a phone conversation with Thomas Doll, the then head coach of Ferencváros, who was able to convince me in ten minutes: join them – He relived what happened in 2018 by the German player, describing Dollt as an extremely kind man. “A loose and very natural boy that I could talk to as if he were my best friend.” I fit in with his professional ideas, his splendor was positive, so the question was not if he would sign for his team, but when he would. “

Heister has lamented Doll’s push, which is often anecdotal with his players, but at the same time demands a lot in training, but as with the German coach, he feels good with Serhiy Rebrov’s team; for example, it doesn’t offend him at all if he doesn’t start as a left back.

“My competitor, Eldar Civic, is a young national soccer team and plays soccer at the same level as me. If the coach puts him in the starting lineup, his decision is not against me, but in favor of the Civic. Over time, I became much wiser in dealing with situations like this, I don’t take it seriously, anyway, I am grateful for every minute that I spent on the field, because it is not an everyday thing to suddenly have the opportunity to play. in the Champions League. What I’ve always dreamed of. It would be silly to complain about anything at this point. “

Marcel Heister against Dynamo Kiev (Photo: Károly Árvai)

An inescapable topic is the coronavirus epidemic: Journalists raised what Heister said about allowing 20,000 people to enter a match against Juventus in Budapest.

“In the current situation, it is really difficult to understand why thousands of people are admitted to a soccer game. A footballer, of course, likes to play in the great atmosphere created by the public much more than in front of the empty Congolese stands, but these times require different rules. Everything in the league is already very oiled ”.

Heister was very careful on weekdays, avoiding restaurants and cafes all fall, and even buying a hair clipper so he wouldn’t have to go to a hair salon, because even a forced lack of a single BL match would be a huge disappointment.

“My wife thinks I’m exaggerating caution a bit, but she doesn’t even play in the Champions League.” he said with a laugh.

Regarding the challenges against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo:

“I couldn’t wait to be at the Camp Nou – Heister counted the Barcelona game (1-5), in which he played 27 minutes as a substitute. “Suddenly I found footballers that I usually play on Playstation …” Messi said something to Dembélé next to me, for a moment I thought it was just a dream. (Name). Many would give their all to get closer to Messi or Ronaldo, and I was able to fight them there in 16, promising they wouldn’t be skinny. It is a great happiness to be a part of this! “

Marcel Heister (second from left) after the Juve game in Budapest (Photo: Miklós Szabó)

And what happened to Messi’s shirt in the end?

“Sure, I wanted to be myself too, but it was enveloping that all my classmates were like that, so I wisely took a back seat. He showed the others that he would change his shirt in the hall, but disappeared there in moments Heister continued, who, in exchange for Juve, also spent 22 minutes on the pitch in exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo: “I saw him a little upset and angry.” When I asked about his shirt, he refused. Perhaps because he failed to score. I once took a photo of me taking the ball from him and also posted on Instagram. The greatest experience of my life (Name).”

There was also a short discussion about what to expect next summer when his contract expires.

“I can’t tell you because we haven’t talked about the sequel yet, I don’t know the club’s plans. But I’m not worried, I feel great here right now. I’ll be happy if we spread out. If we do not expand, a new adventure will begin. Either way, one thing’s for sure: I’ll go my own way. “

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, GROUP CIRCUIT
ROUND 4, Tuesday
21.00: Juventus (Italian) –CITY OF FERENC (TV: M4 Sport) – live off UFOs!
21.00: Dinamo Kiev (Ukraine) – Barcelona (Spain) (TV: Player 1) – live off UFOs!

National sports reports on the venue: Péter Csillag, Dávid Határ (text), Viola Pusztai (video) and Károly Árvai (photo)