Real Sociedad
Alexander Isak: «I am calm. I have a contract and my plan is to stay at La Real»
The Swedish striker is not content with the fifth position he aims for this season and wants to take more steps forward in the future
Alexander Isak, smiling, wants to put a good finishing touch on his season on Saturday against Osasuna in Pamplona. / USOZ
RAĂšL MELERO- Saint Sebastian
https://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/a ... e=bW1xYXoy
(Software translation)
Thursday, 20 May 2021
He is the fashionable player. 16 goals compliment him, this year. 32, since he signed two summers ago. He will play the European Championship with Sweden and after that,
Alexander Isak (Solna, Sweden, 1999) is clear about his destiny.
I will come here to train,
he concludes.
His ease in scoring is directly proportional, to how easy it is for him to learn languages. He does not let it, or throw it away He is the first to ask.
In Spanish or in English?
-Whatever you want. Half and half?
-Agree.
-On Sunday, you will play his 50th game of this campaign. Have you ever- had, such a busy season?
-No never. Last year it was my maximum and it was 45, and now we have played some more.
-How are you, physically?
-Well, physically I am fine. It is true that it has been a very long season with many games and I have played a lot, but I feel good. I still have energy.
- It's one game left, to close the season.
-We don't have to think much, about the other teams. Of course, things can be changed but our thinking is to go to Osasuna and win. That's the most important thing. Later we will see how we finish, but our objective must be that.
-Looking at the entire season and what summary would you make of this campaign?
-That has been a good season. For me and for the team, too. Now, let's see if we finish fifth. We enter the European League's Competition next season, and thus fulfill the objective. We have also won the Copa España, which has been historic for Real and we are very proud of that.
Here I feel good, and I am very well. After the Eurocup, I see myself training in Zubieta because I have a contract.
FUTURE
Playing alongside Silva, Oyarzabal or Januzaj is a joy because they interpret football in a very easy way.
UNDERSTANDING
-And you?
-In the first half of the of the championship, it cost me a little more. I was not very good, and scored three goals. But I knew the quality that I have and that I could turn it around and I think I did it, because I scored thirteen goals this year.
-Has anything changed, between those first months and this 2021?
-I don`t believe so. It's the way, it is. Sometimes you are in shape, and other times you are not. And that makes you more successful.
-It seemed easy to beat Valladolid, in the last match.
- Yes, but in the field it is not like that. It is true that my goals helped and whenever you score in the next few minutes, you have to go for more. That happened and we knew we had to kill the party, at that time.
-My colleague Imanol Troyano wrote that your first goal was reminiscent of those made by Thierry Henry, with that hitting the boll from far with a screw...
- (Smiles) Yes, I like Henry a lot as a forward. It is true that it may resemble, like the ones he use to make, yes.
-What if Real, doesn't finish fifth ...
-If we finish sixth, I think nothing happens either, because we are going to the Europa League. Now that we are classified to be at least seventh, we want more and that happens by finishing in fifth position. If I'm honest, if we finish seventh we will not be very happy.
-It would not be deserved to finish in seventh position with the great year you guys have had ...
-That's true. I know the team very well. We are positive and we don't think about any of that. We are working well, we have the game in a few days and that is our mentality.
- Your scored 16 goals. It's a great number, right?
-I'm super happy. It is true that as of this 2021 I have changed; I have turned it around. I have scored thirteen goals and it is very good. What more can I tell you!
-More goals, in the coming Saturday?
-Of course, that's the goal. We want to win and if I can help my teammates by scoring, all the better.
-Do you feel that when you come into contact with the ball, a lot and your teammates feel better?
-Can be. But there have been games this year that I have scored almost without ever having touched a ball before. It happened last Sunday, but it was because we scored early.
-I also remember the Alavés game ...
-That is what I was going to say to you. That day, mind you, I spent 34 minutes with hardly any intervention. And the first three I had, made me make a hat-trick. It is true that as a player you want to touch the ball because if you don't feel a little out of the game, eventhough I know that scoring the first goal is important.
-Do you realize, that you are breaking many records at La Real?
-Yes, something I read and something they tell me, but if I'm honest I don't think about it much. I don't know the entire history of La Real and obviously, I like it when people remind me of that kind of thing. But I'm just trying to do my job and make it go well.
When this damn pandemic is over, we will celebrate the Cup.
-Did you expect, such a high level of football in the League?
-Yes, I knew it was one of the best leagues in the world and when you face the top players you realize that: what level it is.
-Looking from the outside, it seems that you are capable of doing everything. Shoot a goal, shoot from outside the area, make a wall ...
-Well, I don't know. I have some strengths, and I feel very comfortable around the field. Not only in the area, as it was said in the past about the center forwards. I feel comfortable with my teammates and the way they play. I can receive at the feet or in an open space and that is good for me, because I can do different things.
-Is the 1-4-3-3, the system in which they are most comfortable?
-I think so and it is also the one that we have repeated the most times, so we know a little better how to execute it. Although it is true that it is not something closed, there have been games where we have changed the system and depending on which players we are on the field, things change.
-Playing alongside Silva, Oyarzabal and Januzaj makes things easier, doesn't it?
-Yes, they are players with a tremendous level and they understand football very well. It is a joy to play with them and with the rest of the teammates.
-What about the European Cup?
-I really want to play that, really.
-Without Ibrahimovic, the lights are going to point at you.
-It is a pity that Ibrahimovic is not there, for the quality he has and for all that he means for Sweden as a player. His injury was a shame, but we are more players and together I hope we do well.
-Sweden, Poland, Spain and Slovakia.
-It will not be easy, but I hope we qualify.
-In the match against Spain, you will face several teammates.
-I hope so. And do not confuse me, when passing the ball (laughs).
-Do Real supporters have to be worried, because their goals arouse the interest of some other teams?
-You have to be calm. I am. My goal is to finish the season in the best way. There is one game left and I said that I feel good here, I'm very good. What happens is, that nobody knows what will happen in the future. Neither you nor I. I take everything very calmly.
-After the Eurocup, when it is his turn to return to training, will we see him training at the José Luis Orbegozo?
-Sure. I have a contract with the Real and that is the plan.
-You always speak of Dortmund, in the past tense.
-Yes, that's how it is. Like, Willem II or the AIK Solna. Now I am in the Real and very comfortable.
The next step can be the Champions League, because you always have to go for more. I feel that the team thinks that way and I like it
AMBITION
We had high hopes in that tie and they showed us that they are a very tough team.
MANCHESTER UNITED
-Since you arrived last summer, two qualifications for Europe and a title. What is the next step?
-It could be the Champions League, I don't know. What I have clear is that you always have to go for more, be ambitious, that's what I feel with the team. If we can fight for the Champions League, we will fight for it.
-Go on.
-We have been good all season, there have been good and bad moments, but we have played many competitions.
-Do you have the thorn stuck in the tie, against Manchester United?
-Can be. We had high hopes for that match. I'll take the second leg, where I think we gave a better level. La Real are much more like that team than that of Turin.
-And note that at the beginning of the game, you and Januzaj had good scoring chances ...
-It's true. But right away they scored a goal against us. United showed that they are a great team and a very tough opponent. But if we have qualified to play against them, it will be for something.
-Will you win the Europa League final, against Villarreal?
- (He thinks about it) I think so.
- And the Champions?
-I think Manchester City will beat Chelsea.
