When LASK kicks off the new season of the Bundesliga against Klagenfurt today (Raiffeisen Arena, 5 p.m., live ticker on nachrichten.at), top access Robert Zulj will be in the family sector. Soon his regular place should be the tenth position in the black and white midfield. In the OÖN interview, the 30-year-old from Wels explains what he has planned to do with LASK.
You have returned home after eight years as a legionnaire. Why?
There are many reasons. I got a lot of appreciation from the club, sports director Radovan Vujanovic and president Siegmund Gruber explained the project to me. They see me as a big part. Then I let my gut feeling decide.
The move to Al Ittihad Kalba came as a surprise to many last summer, having previously led Bochum to Bundesliga promotion with 15 goals and 14 assists.
After the promotion with Union Berlin (note: 2019), I had a request like this before. At that time it was still a bit too early. I said I’d think twice next time when an offer like that came up. I’ve always wanted to play somewhere with nice weather, by the sea, and get to know a different culture.
What is life like as a professional soccer player in the United Arab Emirates?
You have to find your way there first. I think that helped me a lot later in life. The football isn’t that prestigious, the quality of the league isn’t that good because there are only three or four professional players per team. The rest are amateurs. As you can imagine, the overall quality of the team is not that good.
You played for Fürth, Hoffenheim, Union Berlin and Bochum in Germany. Didn’t it appeal to you to attack Germany again?
I’m proud that I played in Germany for eight years. It was a great experience, I’ve matured into a good player. I was already tempted. Ultimately, you have to weigh: Where do you get more appreciation? It doesn’t matter whether there’s a euro more or less in the account. The entire project, with LASK, with my homeland, with the goals for the coming years: that suits me very well. My gut feeling said I should take the step – and it still feels good afterwards.
You have been training at LASK since Monday. What impression did you get?
LASK is a very family club. I was already there at the academy and know it a bit. We have a good team, a good atmosphere in the team, we got great signings. With a coach who has already been successful in Austria, I believe that the overall package is right. In the end it will be important that we work well and perform well on the pitch at the weekends – because no one has ever become successful from talking alone.
You haven’t played against Klagenfurt yet. When do you want to make your debut?
Want… preferably against Klagenfurt. The coach explained it: It would be too risky for me to play straight away because I haven’t been in training for a long time. We work hard every day so that I can hopefully be available to the team in a timely manner.
LASK presented you as a transfer coup. Does that increase the pressure?
Not for me. It’s important for me that I came to a team that has really good quality, that has a good coach, that has goals. That’s what I need I’m the one who criticizes myself the most and who expects the most from myself. I don’t need someone from outside to build up pressure.
What are your personal goals for this season?
That I stay fit, that I help the team as much as I can so that we play successful football – and that we bring LASK to where it belongs: in the championship group. If we work hard, we will make it.
They have signed until 2025. Where will LASK be in three years?
After the weaker season, we want to play better football again and be successful. If you see where LASK has been in recent years – always internationally – it is clear that we want to go there again.
Another opponent from Tyrol in the ÖFB Cup
Before the kick-off against Klagenfurt, LASK trainer Dietmar Kühbauer praised his team. “The boys did well in preparation.” He added with a smile: “Now we’ll see if we did it right.”
In the ÖFB Cup, LASK is going back to Tyrol: After the 9-1 win against Regionalliga West champions Schwaz, the second round will go to Imst – provided the club applies for home rights. In any case, there is a reunion with a former LASK player: Florian Jamnig switched from Wacker Innsbruck to Imst.
Source: Nachrichten
