Open interview

Xaver Schlager: “I can hardly grasp it myself”

Xaver Schlager

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

ÖFB team player Xaver Schlager from German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig tries to stay grounded despite the increased media presence and high salaries in soccer. "Football is a business that sometimes involves sums of money that can make it difficult to stay grounded. The transfer sums alone that are in circulation. I can hardly grasp it myself," said the 26-year-old. And: "You enjoy coming to the national team, you really look forward to it, we get on really well and have become a great unit."

"The influence of new markets makes this influence of money even greater. I just try to value our profession, but not to overestimate it," explained the midfielder in an interview with the online portal "RBlive".

Schlager, who grew up playing soccer in St. Valentin, learned to enjoy the little things during his childhood in the countryside. He has also matured over the years and now tries to help younger players with his experience and lead the way. Last but not least, his attitude towards conflict has changed over time. "Conflicts are also important and are part of the game. The important thing is that you can look each other in the eye after you've talked about what doesn't fit. It's important to address things because otherwise they will continue to germinate subconsciously. That's usually much worse than open words."

"People like coming to the national team"
Schlager had high praise for ÖFB team manager Ralf Rangnick. The successor to Franco Foda has "brought a lot of new things to us: a clear structure and line of how we want to play and what the tasks of each individual player are. But he also gives us freedom outside of soccer," emphasized the Lower Austrian. "You enjoy coming to the national team, you really look forward to it, we get on really well and have become a great unit."

Bookworm
Schlager also gave an insight into his private life, including revealing that he is a bookworm. "Reading is something I do to develop positive thoughts that help me and prepare me for certain situations," he said. His latest literary "conquests": "The Snow Leopard" by French travel writer Sylvain Tesson and the novel "The Execution Ground" by Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov, which was published back in Soviet times.