‘Maybe we can surprise them’
HAVING joined RB Leipzig when they were still in Germany’s second division, Peter Gulacsi has seen the club grow from Bundesliga new boys and on to a first appearance in the Champions League knock-out stage.
The Hungarian goalkeeper is relishing tomorrow’s last 16, first leg when the ambitious eastern German club, bankrolled by energy drinks giants Red Bull, face last season’s beaten finalists Tottenham Hotspur in London.
“It’s a new experience to play against an English side. It’s a big opportunity and a big test,” Gulacsi told AFP.
“If we have a good day, maybe we could surprise them.”
While Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham sit fifth in the Premier League, Leipzig head to London in the midst of a battle at the top of the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, with whom they drew 0-0 earlier this month.
“It’s going to be two difficult games, but this is what you look forward to,” Gulacsi said of the Spurs tie. “These are the games we have been fighting to play in.”
Leipzig’s success has been built around a core of key players.
Along with Gulacsi, Sweden winger Emil Forsberg, Denmark’s Yussuf Poulsen, Austrian winger Marcel Sabitzer and Germany fullbacks Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Halstenberg played for the club in the second division and have gone on to establish themselves at international level.
“If you look at the team, there has been a lot of changes, but we had a group of six, seven players who provided the base we have built on,” said Gulacsi.
“The team has grown, the city is buzzing about football.
“It’s a continuity, we are trying to go step by step and I am happy to be part of that.”
Tomorrow’s game will be a return to England for Gulacsi, who left home-town club MTK Budapest to join Liverpool in 2007 as a raw 17-year-old.
He spent six years with Liverpool, yet never made a competitive appearance with
Pepe Reina the incumbent goalkeeper.
Gulacsi hopes Germany striker Timo Werner can wreak havoc at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Werner has 20 league goals this season and three in the Champions League.
“In terms of his first few steps, Timo is one of the quickest players in Europe,” said Gulacsi.
“He has also stepped up his game tactically this season and his scoring form is simply superb.” – AFP