Bernardo: “I didn’t expect everything to happen so quickly in Leipzig”

Interview with Bernardo!

On Saturday (3:30 p.m), we will be reunited with our former defender Bernardo as RBL travel to VfL Bochum. The Brazilian defender played for RB Leipzig for two seasons, from 2016 to 2018. 

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Bernardo talks about his time in the city, talented former teammates and why he could also imagine a career as a goalkeeper.
 

Bernardo, you are back in the Bundesliga after a few years in Austria and England. How does it feel to be back in Germany and playing in the Bundesliga?

• “It feels good. My first time in Germany was very, very good. I believe that the football played in Germany suits my style well. The stadiums and the fans here are the best ever. In Germany the game is very intense and very open. All teams try to attack. So yes – I feel good here.”

You were a player at RB Leipzig from 2016 to 2018, and during this time, you experienced the club’s first year in the Bundesliga and its debut in the Champions League. How do you look back on your time in Leipzig?

• “It was a very good time. When I signed with RBL in 2016, I didn’t expect that everything would happen so quickly.

  I thought we would have a good team playing European football in two or three years. But after half a season, we realised how good we were. It was a great time. I played a lot. RB Leipzig is a great club with excellent facilities.”

Are you still in touch with your former Leipzig teammates?

• “I speak with Peter Gulacsi from time to time. When he was injured last season, he came to Salzburg for treatment. We ate together a few times there. I also speak with Emil Forsberg and Oliver Burke . I know both Benjamin Sesko and Nicolas Seiwald from my time in Salzburg. Both are very good players.”

   

How do you view our current team?

• “It’s a very good team. Every season, Leipzig play with a lot of energy and have many young players. They play attractive football. There are a lot of good players, so it’s hard to single out any one. 

  I know Benjamin Sesko and Nicolas Seiwald well. “Nici” is a good number six. He is a great passer of the ball and makes almost no mistakes. That is very important in this position. 

  And Sesko is just: Wow! He has so much potential. He is already a good striker, one of the best of his generation. As he plays even more and gains more confidence, he can be one of the very best.”
   

What kind of game are you expecting on Saturday?

• “Anything can happen. We saw that in the game against Bayern. Leipzig is the favourite, that’s for sure. But here at home in Bochum we are very strong. With our fans behind us we can do anything. If we do everything right, we can get a point or three. We have a chance against Leipzig.”

   

With a little wink: On Saturday, your number one Manuel Riemann will be missing in goal. In 2018 you shone with a few saves as a goalkeeper at Dominik Kaiser’s farewell game at the Red Bull Arena. If the going gets tough on Saturday, are you ready to play in goal again?

• “Certainly. I would be 100 percent ready (laughs). Rogério Ceni, former goalkeeper and captain of São Paulo FC, is one of my idols. He scored a lot of goals, from penalties and free kicks. As a child I always wanted to score. Now of course playing in goal no longer suits. 

  But if I had decided back then that I wanted to be a goalkeeper and not an outfield player, who knows, maybe I could have become a good goalkeeper.”