“An incredible feeling”

Champions League in Leipzig!

Ahead of the game against Crvena zvezda, we spoke to Christoph Baumgartner (24). The Austrian international spoke about his start to life in Leipzig, a special game and how it feels to play in the UCL.

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The first few weeks of the season didn’t quite go to plan for you, Baumi. You had some injury problems, but how fit are you now?

• “I’ve made some real progress on my fitness over the last few weeks. It’s not been easy, I’ve had several little niggles and they kept setting me back. I’m on the right track now and have been able to start a game too. I’m probably not at 100% yet, but I’m fit enough to play large parts of games.”
   

Did that affect how easy it was for you to settle in here?

• “I was still here and still spent a lot of time with the lads. I tried to soak as much up as possible. I’ve spent a lot of time with Janis Blaswich and David Raum away from training and that really helped me.”
   

You made your Champions League debut this season. How did playing in the UCL feel?

• “It was an incredible feeling. I’ve been watching the Champions League since I was five years old. Playing in it has always been a big dream of mine. We got a win to start off with and then narrowly lost to a top team in Manchester City – that just makes me hungry for more! We’ve now got two games against a difficult opponent. We want to put ourselves in a good position for the rest of the group stage.”
   

You already played Crvena zvezda twice with TSG Hoffenheim. What kind of a side are they?

• “They are extremely physical and not a nice team to face. They won’t let us easily have the ball. Their main focus is their defence. They won’t gift us anything, so we need to be ready and play to our best. If we do that, I believe we can win both games.”
   

Your first European goal came against them back in October 2020 in the Europa League (2-0 win). Can you remember it?

• “It was a really nice moment and one that I gladly look back on – your first goals are always special. Perhaps I can get my first Champions League goal on Wednesday too. It would be fitting if it was against Crvena zvezda as well.”
   

What do you do in the days before a Champions League game to prepare yourself?

• “I just try to do all the things I normally do. I’m still just trying to get as many minutes in as I can on the training ground. I then try to switch off a bit at home with my girlfriend and our dog. We’ve really settled in nicely here – it’s great fun to be living in Leipzig.”