Axelsim

After today's news: The Hungarian Football Federation has also confirmed that Dominik will not be able to play in the EURO Playoff. A lot of Hungarians are furious about this decision, although I'm not amongst them. Of course I'm not happy at all as he is a key member in the squad but I also understand the reason behind this decision. A lot of clubs will be playing with these cards rightfully. I wish a speedy recovery for those three players who got infected though. All I can confirm that according to "Nemzetisport" Dominik has been tested negative.

First of all huge congrats to Salzburg reaching the group phase once again. :) The game definitely was not our best, but the right mentality was there. Daka played a huge part in this. As for Szobo it was not his night, but well taken penalty though. On M4 Sport Dominik's father (Zsolt) and agent (Mátyás) watched the match together which was kinda interesting. After the match Zsolt said that on technical aspect his son made a lot of errors, so he was not impressed which he will let Dominik know about. :) He praised his braveness though cause he continues to take on solutions which would create great opportunities although they are risky.

All I can confirm that it is not Szobo.

Not the most reliable source (www.borsonline.hu/sport/szoboszlai-apja-mar-tudjuk-hol-folytatja-dominik/209027), but according to Dominik's father (Zsolt Szoboszlai) it is already known what the next step will be in Szobo's career. He cannot say any further details though.

Yeah, Szobo staying in Salzburg confirmed which I think is the best decision. Dominik's words through his agency: "We've been in contact with several teams in the last couple of weeks but me with my family and agent decided to continue this great journey with Salzburg. I received a lot from this club, now it's my turn to give back."

Interview with Christoph Freund (source: http://www.nemzetisport.hu/legiosok/legiosok-szoboszlai-szakmailag-es-emberileg-is-sokat-fejlodott-2776759): If we look at Salzburg's last season (Bundesliga champion, Austrian Cup winner and CL group stage) can we say that RBS reached the peak? Without a doubt we ended one of our best season a couple of weeks ago. We had tough moments, but we came out of them stronger and we will never forget the CL nights. The atmosphere in those matches cannot be compared to anything else. This time the goal is to repeat this success right? Yes, we would like to compete in the CL again, but we will not be disappionted either if we show ourselves in EL. The important thing is to make a mark on the international stage. Do you still count with Dominik? Of course. In the last season he's been a key player in our team, especially after the Corona break. He could help us a lot to reach our goals. Jesse Marsch said that he played in another dimension after the break. Do you agree? In the last season Dominik improved a lot, not just on technical level but humanly as well. He worked a lot every day to be considered as one of the best player in our team. Maybe Dominik's performance after the break took the public by surprise, but not us. He's been in our team for a long time and we always knew that he's special and has immense potential. We've been following his trainings and we saw how much extra work he puts in, so we expected that the explosion will happen sooner or later. What do you mean by the improvement on human aspect? He understood how he has to behave on and off the pitch and also realized that in every training sessions he needs to put in the most effort if he really wants to become the best. Up to now we saw him as one of the most talented player, but now we can also say the he is the most hard-working one. He became a man from boy in Salzburg. Several top teams are interested in Dominik. Despite that Salzburg expects that he's going to stay in Austria? The interests are not surprising. He is one of the most courted young player on the market right now but as I said before we don't want to let him go. We will see what's going to happen in the upcoming weeks or months but I am optimistic that we can keep him. According to some rumors AC Milan already made an offer. All I can say that several top teams are interested in him but our standpoint doesn't change. We would like him to stay. His market value on Transfermarkt is 25 million. Would you let him go for this amount? I don't want to talk about exact numbers but it is not accidental that his market value stands on this amount. Would Dominik still improve if he stayed in Salzburg? After the break in the Bundesliga he showed what he really can do. The next step would be doing the same on the international stage. He would have every chance to do so with Salzburg.

Great interview with Szobo. It's quite long so I won't even try to translate it, but I'll add some interesting points below: He did not go for a vacation after the championship ended, he just wanted to spend some time with his family and friends in Hungary. Due to Corona he did not see them for a long time. When talked about money he mentions that he doesn't own a car (gets it from Salzburg) and he rents a flat. Mostly his money is managed by his father. He could buy a fancy car if he wanted but he doesn't need it. His father also says there is nothing yet to show off. Although he likes to buy clothes and shoes for himself. He hired a personal trainer (Shane Tusup) himself because he felt that he needed to improve his fitness level and also building up muscles to have better chances in duels. He already gained weight and thinks the positive effects could be seen after Corona. He thinks the PL is the toughest league physically. He is asked which coach in world football has the style, charisma and personality who could motivate him the best and he would love to work with in his career. His answer is Klopp who he thinks is the best coach right now. He prefers coaches who can have a speech in the dressing room before a match that can motivate and fire him up. Some other players prefer to be left alone before matches and just listening to music. He is not a jittery type at all. Only once he felt nervous before stepping on a pitch and that was on Anfield. He prefers to play it simple in the first 8-10 minutes of a game and the most important thing is to not make any mistakes. After he really warmed up and feels the confidence he can play the extra stuff. He doesn't think about transfer news, he just continues to work. He is ready for anything. If he needs to change he'll change, if he stays in Salzburg he will continue to show himself here.

Would've only made some sense if Rangnick went there too. I'm kinda happy about this I must say.

A little interview just came out with Szobo (source: http://www.csakfoci.hu/magyar-foci/magyar_valogatott/szoboszlaiki-kell-jutnunk-az-eb-re-nem-lenne-csalodott-ha-salzburgban-maradna) which has some interesting points: He talks about getting out to the European Championship with Hungary: "I'll come home from Salzburg, or wherever I'll be that we will have to reach that qualifying spot. I wish I could live that feeling which a lot of my teammates experienced in 2016." Since the end of the Bundesliga he had 4 days off from training. He wants to keep the form constantly. He does not think about any transfer news. He wouldn't be dissappointed at all if he stayed in Salzburg. Basically that's it, but it sounds like staying is a big possibility too.

Yep, that is some poor journalism right there... I translated that part how it was in the article. I doubt it sounded like that in person though...

I promised the 2nd part of the interview. So here we go: In summer Marco Rose went to Mönchengladbach. Jesse Marsch followed him as a coach at Salzburg. You had to start another battle with a coach who managed the team quite differently. In the new formation you've been forced onto the left side, almost a winger-like position. How did you cope with this change? We played completely different. While with Rose we played in diamond formation mostly me as an 8 in the centre, with Marsch 4-2-2-2 as an outside midfielder. For a while I did not really feel this new role. I had to learn it and get used to it. I think in spring I got the feel of it and I feel really comfortable now. Your stats really show that. Now there's a tendency that the playmakers often start buliding attacks from the sides moving towards the centre. My coach expects this from me too and he ensures enough freedom for me to attack into the open spaces aggressively and look for passing areas. On the other hand in defense I need to hold my position strictly. What is your relationship like with Marsch? It is really good. He has a different approach isn't he? Yes, he has. He's more easy-going compared to Rose. He only speaks in English when he's angry. We get on really well. First time you were called into Hungary's squad at the age of 16. Most people did not understand what a 16 year old should be doing near the national team. After the first training I asked a couple of your teammates about you and they said they've never seen anyone who played this mature at the age of a 16. I was trained for self-conscious football at very young age, thanks to Salzburg. In Hungary the mentality is more like: You should not force constant regulations on young players as you will kill all the creativity from them... In Austria everything is set into the tactics individually. They do not kill creativity, they just ensure further knowledge to complete your playing style and personality. What do you do in your free time? I don't have much free time. Are you kidding? Besides one training a day? Usually trainings are at 10 am but I am at the training centre by 8. I stay there until 3 pm. After that maybe I can go shopping or going to a restaurant with my friends. After getting home I rest or playing some on playstation. Do you have your own flat? No, I rent one. Why don't you buy one? I don't know. Never thought about it. You currently worth around 30 million which is by far the highest value if we look at all the Hungarian players. A club will surely pay this amount in the near future. I worked hard for this. From a very young age if I wasn't studying/eating/sleeping I was playing football with my Dad. This is the result of 15 years of hard work. When I was at training my buddies were partying and drinking. Are the market values significant for the players in the Salzburg dressing room? Does it influence the hierarchy? No, not at all. In the whole Bundesliga I am the highest valued player now, but it doesn't affect anything in the dressing room. I have the same say on things as any other of my teammates. For example everybody sees Zlatko as a palyer who has 188 matches in the German Bundesliga with a ton of experiance and not looking at his market value. This worths more than what your value is currently. If I reach what he did I can finally say something to him. It seems the market values are more important for the club's management than in the dressing room. Yes. I have to win my teammates' respect by showing great performances on the pitch. If I play good the market will react to this for sure. On the other hand the older players like Zlatko or Andreas help the young players on and off the pitch. What do you think about money in general? I don't care about this topic. You own money and that's it? Of course I am playing football to earn money also, but I am not the one who manages my money. It's my Dad and my manager. The thing is that my Dad always tells me where they invest my money in but we decide together on this. I don't have to care for these things, I just play football. It is kinda a taboo, but how much do you earn? In Austria the salaries are not put in public. Can you describe it without telling a number? I feel safe in this regard. If I had to retire from football tomorrow I'd have enough to be able to live happily until I die. If I am not completely stupid of course. We are thinking about a career path though and not about money. If I reach the level which I'd like to achieve everything else like money will come with it. Do you earn the most in Salzburg? In the dressing room we do not talk about this, but I am not even in the top 3. There are some who earn a lot more, but that is ok for me. At a young age you sign a contract with different conditions. A personal goal of yours? To have 150 appearances in the national team. With a club? To win the CL. To reach that you'll have to sign to a top club within the top 5 leagues. Yes. What is your relationship like with Ralf Rangnick? We know each other as he is the Red Bull group's leader. Do you have a personal contact with him? We've already met in the past. It was a while ago. You know why I ask these questions right? There is a rumor that Rangnick will take over AC Milan next season and his no. 1 target is you. Normally the preparation for the new season should have already started, but I am sitting here... Due to corona a lot of championships are still ongoing and the transfer season hasn't really even started. On top of that Rangnick is not Milan's manager so there is nothing to talk about. Which league do you feel the most close to? Maybe Spanish or Italian. Then sooner or later you'll have to sign to Barcelona, Real Madrid or Juventus, AC Milan. We will see over time.

According to several reports Rangnick to Milan is OFF. That changes things quite dramatically for Szobo too.

I might have skipped some parts of the interview which were not that relevant: Interview translation part 1: What were the differences between training in Salzburg and in Hungary? It is completely different, you have the fight for your place in the team. I realized that besides me there are at least 25 other player who have the same qualities as myself. They do not care where you come from, only what you do on the pitch. Your father did not spoil you either. About 6-7 years ago I went to a match played between Főnix-Gold and Vasas. The match was won by your club Főnix 10-1. After the win the coach (your father) shouted at you players which nobody understood why. The score could have been 20-1 as well... In the middle of the pitch there was a tall guy. The coach was the most furious with him. With me? Yes. There was not a match when he did not do that if he felt that's reasonable. Is he that perfectionist? That's not even a question. Did it bother you at all? Did you have debates? Yes, quite a lot. What kind of debate should we picture? He shouted my head off and meanwhile I shut my mouth. I did not have any other choice, I had to do what he requested. Did you agree with him? Not always at that time. I felt bad as I'd been scoring a lot of goals and assisted a lot and I felt I did all my job right. Now I realize that he was right. You have to score goals to win matches but there are a lot of other aspects of the game which you also have to take care of. What is the role of your mother in all this? Of course she did not have anything to do with this football stuff but my Mom always came to see my matches. She ensured the so called calm backround around me. In Főnix the team was built around you while in Salzburg you were just one football player from the bunch. How did you cope with this difference? It was not easy. I did not speak German at all and barely spoke English. I could only sell myself with my performances. I worked hard from the first training. I would have been screwed if I did not do like that. What do you mean by that? As the only Hungarian I was endangering someones position. "If you want my buddy's place I am gonna screw you over". That's the mentality. They did not succeed at my case. You won the sympathy of others quite quickly cause while you were playing with Liefering in 2017/2018 season, in spring you've been called up to train with the first team of Salzburg with head coach Marco Rose at that time. After that on May 18th you debuted against Austria Wien. How is Marco Rose as a coach? He is tough but a very good coach. On the pitch he asks players to talk to each other loudly to help one another. In the dressing room he asked for player's opinions as well. Could anyone express their opinion? Sure. Did that ever happen with 17 year old Dominik? I don't think that anyone at 17 would say anything... I did not do that either. The team's older and more accomplished players express their opinions. The younger players do what they are told to do. But we felt a sincere good relations to our coach on and off the pitch as well. How much time did you need to get used to the Salzburg team? I needed half a year to realize that I am not training at Liefering now and I'll need to do a lot more than that. Is the difference between the two teams that big? Yes, of course. At Liefering I just did my thing and I became the centre of that team. I thought that will be enough at RBS as well. How wrong I was... What was the main difficulty that you couldn't jump the level of the first team right away? I thought I am the cool one here, the same intenstity in trainings will be enough which I did at Liefering. Rose let me know that I am completely wrong. He put me in my place and tried to get me to return to reason. At that time I thought the coach is the one who is incompetent. Certainly I was the one... I reached to a point when I said this cannot go any further. I asked my manager to look for a team where I can play. I had several good options even then. We also flew to one of the teams to negotiate but during the travel something switched in me and said: "Look Matyi (his manager) I changed my mind. I don't wanna change, I'm gonna face these difficulties on my own. Let's get back to Salzburg." When I returned I went to Rose's office and said: "Coach, I am not going to give it up. I'm gonna work until you put me into the first team." This moment was a real turning point in my relationship with Marco and even in my carreer. After this I started to train differently and harder than before. Thanks to that I got my chance in the Europe League against Napoli. Looking back I realize if Rose wasn't my coach I wouldn't be sitting here now. Can we call this the process of becoming an adult? Yes, all this meant a major maturing process not just as a footballer but as a person as well. He was right and I needed his toughness to get myself accepted within the team and by now becoming a leader based on my performances and my personality. Part 2 will consist of the Marsch era, speaking of market values, money and the current transfer speculations. (source: https://rangado.24.hu/magyar_foci/2020/07/18/szoboszlai-dominik-interju-palyafutas/)

Really? Hungarian can be quite tricky when it comes to Google translate, but it's cool if it works.

That is one hell of an interview I must say. I'm gonna send a translation of this one tomorrow as that is pretty long.