László Kleinheisler: I've really got the hang of it recently

– You've been on fire for the past few weeks scoring three goals in your previous four league games and scoring for the national team as well. What's behind this amazing performance?
– Lately, I've really got the hang of it, László Kleinheisler, the 27-year-old midfielder for Osijek and the Hungarian national team, told our portal. – There is no particular secret. It's all thanks to the trainings and the fact that I haven't had injuries. I'm glad the work we've put in during the weeks is paying off in the matches. I hope I can keep this up in the future.

– Do you get an extra day off for the incredible goals? Just because you've scored some recently...
– I thought since it's a goal, it should be memorable... Joking aside, I'm just as happy for a goal that barely passes the goal line as a goal scored from afar. The important thing is for the team to win. I'm much more focused on finishing and am more conscious of how I kick and where I place the ball. In the past, when I got into position, I rushed my opportunity to score, or I only paid attention whether I had enough power to shoot, but the aim wasn't right. That's changed now, and I'm working with a dedicated coach which also helps a lot.

– What help do you receive?
– We analyze my game after every match. No matter how busy the schedule is, I always make time for this. I want to improve week by week, so after every meeting, we discuss the positives and also what I did wrong, because that's what I can learn from the most. It's the only way I can improve my performance.

– Can we say you're at the top of your career?
– I don't usually think about that. I only care about getting better and making the most out of myself. I hope I haven't reached my peak yet because I want to score more goals and assist more.

– In addition to your own performance, there can be no complaints about Osijek's performance either. The team is in second place with two points behind top-ranked Dinamo Zagreb that played a game less. On April 21, you welcome the defending champions on home grounds. Will it be the game of the year?
– The next three games are all equally important and the league title can be decided on them. This weekend we play at the home of Hajduk Split, followed by Dinamo on home grounds. Then, we another away game in Rijeka. We can look forward to these games with confidence because we are in great shape. I feel we deserve the title, but we have to prove that on the pitch.

– If we look at the last 13 league games, you've only lost once against Dinamo Zagreb in an away game. How is the team so assembled?
– Nenad Bjelica is an excellent professional who can effectively pass on his professional ideas to the team. Everyone knows what they're doing on the field and the atmosphere is great in the locker room, too. Before and after training, we tease each other all the time, we talk a lot. We've recently signed quality players who've settled in quickly, although only on the international stage will we see how strong the current Osijek is. I'm looking forward to playing in the Europa League or the Champions League qualifiers in the summer. I would be very happy to see what we're capable of against a strong opponent.

– It would be a historic act, that's for sure. We can be satisfied with the current ranking as well; the title win is not an expectation from the management either, but since we're so close to it, we will do our utmost to get the gold medal. In the next three meetings, we're going to have to fight really hard for the dream, but we're ready.

– In addition to your club team, you played well in the national team as well. You scored in an away game against Andorra and were praised by many for your calmer play.
– I was happy to be back in the team; I missed it so much. I wanted to meet my teammates again, because before this World Cup qualifiers, the last time I played was in 2019 when we lost to Croatia. Before the meeting against Poland, I felt agitated, but as soon as I ran out onto the pitch, I overcame the nervousness, and there was no fear or doubt. We can be satisfied with the seven points we have earned in the three games, but we know that the matches against San Marino and Andorra were in the category of ‘mandatory victory.' Fortunately, based on the feedback, I didn't disappoint anyone with my game.

– Back to the game against Croatia. In the 3-0 defeat, you received a red card, which at the time put your teammates in a rather difficult position. Did you digest what happened?
– I feel bad about what happened at the time, I did something stupid. The opponent was 3-0 up, so my mistake didn't affect the outcome of the match, but I should've been more disciplined after my first yellow card. Unfortunately, I can't go back to change it, but all I can do is prove with my game that I deserve to be trusted.

– In the three games in March, you seemed to play not only calmed but also much smarter football. You took fewer unnecessary-looking sprints but moved more consciously on the pitch.
– I'm glad it looked like that from the outside. As far as the relaxed state is concerned, unfortunately, there have been times before when I was kicked, I ran straight to the referee complaining much more than I should have. I've become more relaxed when someone commits a foul against me by rather going in the opposite direction than where the referee stands. I have to improve, because if the opponent knows what I'm like, they can provoke me easily. As far as the game is concerned, it's to my advantage to better allocate my strength. I don't help my teammates by attacking someone in a sprint unnecessarily, and the opponent starts positioning himself the area I'm in.

– How much did the goal against Andorra mean to you?
– A lot, it's been a long time since I scored a goal with the national team after all. In training, we often practice that Ádám Szalai would head kick the ball back coming at him, then I arrive in second line, or he slides the ball forward, and get behind it. I'm glad we could do that in the game, but the most important thing is to win. I'm confident that these three meetings will give us the energy for the future. The next match is at the European Championships, and I cannot even imagine how strong of national teams are waiting for us, but we're doing everything we can to walk off the pitch with our head held up high.

Translated by Vanda Orosz