Will he be a difference maker at VfL Wolfsburg? Before his second year in the Bundesliga, Lovro Majer talks about his European Championship experience, his goals and the search for balance.
Interview partner: Lovro Majer reported on the European Championship on Wednesday and talked about his plans at VfL Wolfsburg. kicker
Thomas Hiete reports from Wolfsburg’s training camp in Schladming
Before the media round starts, Majer first takes care of the journalistic guests in the Falkensteiner Hotel in Schladming. Would you like something to drink, asks the Croatian in the best waiter manner. The 26-year-old is an extremely courteous person, a polite footballer. A year ago he came from Stade Rennes for 25 million euros, and although he was VfL’s second-best scorer with five goals and seven assists, he has not fulfilled all expectations. There is still room for improvement, Majer also believes. The Wolfsburg number 10 talks about…
… the European Championship: 0:3 against Spain, 2:2 against Albania, 1:1 against Italy – Croatia were dramatically eliminated by a goal in injury time in the last game. Nevertheless, Majer says: “It was a great experience, I never classify such an experience as a disappointment despite the early elimination. Rather, it is instructive, an experience to continue to improve.” The last game, the late shock, still hurt him. “The game against Italy felt like the biggest defeat of my career, even though we didn’t even lose. But I quickly put it behind me, that is the only way for me to be positive about the future.”
… its premiere season: Majer didn’t excel, but he didn’t disappoint either. “My personal numbers were OK, even if they could still be better,” he said, not satisfied overall. “Our season wasn’t good, you have to say that.” 12th place, no Europe. “Of course I would have liked to play internationally, we would have English weeks, that’s what everyone wants. But I’m convinced that the new season will be much better. Also because I have the feeling that we are a team.”
I am happy here.
Lovro Majer has no plans to leave VfL again
… his future: The midfielder has signed until 2028, and there are currently no indications that he could say goodbye after just one season. “In football, anything is possible,” says Majer, but he is fully committed to VfL: “To be honest, at the moment I am fully focused on this season in Wolfsburg, I am not thinking about anything else. I am happy here, and I am looking forward to being back in training.”
The search for balance: “Running less can be more”
… his running strength: In the past season, Majer had the second most intensive runs in the league behind Heidenheim’s Tim Kleindienst (now Gladbach). The Croatian is not a playmaker who tends to take things easy. He returned from vacation in top shape and came fourth in the intensive shuttle run during the week. This session was “also a mental test”. “You have to go beyond your limits, overcome your laziness.” He can do that, he has worked hard for it.
“I have been working with a fitness coach from England for two years, and that has helped me. I developed my running strength as a youngster; I wasn’t that good at it when I was 15 or 16. But I realised that without this quality I had no chance of playing football at the highest level.” The statistics speak for him, but that’s not all, Majer emphasises. “Nowadays there is a lot of talk about statistics, about metres run, how many sprints each individual player does. All of that is sometimes too much for me, it is overrated in some areas. Sometimes less running can be more. I have to find this balance for my game too.”
… his position: Last season, Majer found himself in many roles, and flexibility is one of the national player’s strengths. In coach Ralph Hasenhüttl’s 3-4-3, one of the half positions behind a number nine is likely to be reserved for the €25 million man. This is “perfect for me. I can play many positions, but if I could choose, then this is the best role for me. This is where I can give the most to the team.”
Hasenhüttl gives him the freedom he needs for his game. “I’m a free spirit. I have to be free in my head and on the field, then I can give my best performance. I want to show that I can make the difference.” At the beginning of Hasenhüttl’s time last season, however, Majer found himself on the bench more often than he would have liked. “Of course I wasn’t happy when I was out. But there was no point in complaining, I kept working hard and played again in the last three games. That was important for me.” And he wants to build on that now.
“… then the goals and assists will come by themselves.”
… his personal goals: “I don’t set myself any specific numbers,” says Majer. “Of course I want to deliver more than last season, but I’m not focused on that. Then you put too much pressure on yourself.” The goal is to top twelve points. “When I’m free in my head, can play my game, enjoy football, then the goals and assists come by themselves.” At the end of last season, Majer took Wolfsburg’s penalties. Will he do so in the future? “I’ve scored two out of two, I feel confident. I hope I’ll be able to continue to take shots.”
2024-08-07 18:31:46
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