Lukas Klostermann on milestones, setbacks and special moments

Lukas Klostermann is entering into his tenth season with RB Leipzig. The defender transferred from VfL Bochum in 2014 and has experienced the club’s rapid growth first-hand.

On the occasion of his ninth anniversary at RBL, Klosti shared his most memorable experiences at the club which has become his second home.

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Lukas, you picked up an injury during the last international break in June with Germany and were forced to work on your rehab individually during pre-season due to a torn muscle in your thigh. However, you made your comeback with a brief appearance against FC Bayern in the Supercup. Therefore, the most important question would ultimately be: How are you feeling now?

• “I’m feeling fully fit again and like I’ve completely overcome the injury. I’m thrilled to be back in action just in time for the start of the season. It’s a great feeling to be back on the pitch with boys and take part in the sessions. We want to have a successful few months and win as many games as possible, which I’m looking forward to helping the team achieve.”
   

Last season ended really well for you, not just with the cup win, but also with the amount of match time you personally got. You were in the starting XI for various fixtures, including the DFB-Pokal final, and performed really well. But then came the injury, which unfortunately wasn’t your first. How do you deal with setbacks like this?

• “At the start, it’s extremely disappointing and tough to accept when you‘re hit with a set-back like that. However, I’ve learnt how to deal with injuries and keep myself on track mentally over the past few years. Rehab brings its ups and downs, but having experience as a player teaches you how to handle it and focus more on the comeback than the negative thoughts.

  As a whole, I’m happy with how things have gone for me following the injury. When I was doing all my rehab individually in pre-season, I was really close to the boys and was able to join them at training camp, which was a lot more fun than doing it all alone.”

You’re back in action now, which is great. We made a few changes to our defense over the summer, so what are your personal goals heading into the new season?

• “I obviously want to be involved in as many matches as possible, but achieving the collective goals of the club and having success as a team are my main objectives. Our squad has a lot of top-quality players who are in great shape for the start of the season – if the boys are all fit, we definitely would have enough to field two great teams, which does mean that there’s a lot of competition when it comes to squad selection. However, this is exactly what we need and it motivates us to work harder. We have a lot of fixtures coming up and have the goal of competing in all the major competitions, so this sort of squad depth is definitely necessary. 

  I’ll obviously be thrilled if I can play and make my contributions to the team. I am, however, aware that due to my injury, I haven’t participated in many training sessions with the boys yet, and I’ll have to be patient.

  I am certain that every player will get their fair share of match time, as last season under Marco has already proved. I’m prepared to put my all into training and see what comes of it.”

Whether you‘re playing as a full-back, as a right centre-back in a back-three or four, you can always be relied upon. Which position do you feel the most comfortable in?

• “Ultimately, I’m not fixated on one specific position, if anything, it’s the opposite. I find it exciting to try new positions and discover the different roles and responsibilities that come with them. It’s fun to have this sort of flexibility as a player, and so many in our squad possess this quality, which makes us a really difficult opponent to come up against.”
   

You’ve been with RB Leipzig since 2014 and have experienced the club’s journey from the 2. Bundesliga to the Champions League, as well as our back-to-back cup wins. Which memories stand out to you from the past nine years?

• “I have so many happy memories of my time here, in particular the 2016 promotion party here in Leipzig, the two cup victories in Berlin or the first Champions League match at the Red Bull Arena against Monaco.

  As a team, we often discuss the positive development of the club, especially those who’ve been here for a long time such as Yussi Poulsen, Emil Forsbergand Pete Gulacsi. We actually were talking today about the match against Darmstadt in 2015, where we really needed a win, and I scored to make it 1-1, despite it being a bit of a lucky deflection (laughs).

  But the real highlight was the winning goal in injury time, scored from a corner in true striker fashion by Fabio Coltorti, our goalkeeper at the time. We carried him around the stadium on our shoulders after the game! That was honestly an unforgettable evening and a moment we still enjoy looking back on as a team.”

What makes RB Leipzig so special to you?

• “It’s definitely special to me that we still have players and staff involved in the club who have been with us all the way from the third or second division. It’s clear from this that the club and the people here are open for change. New signings are always welcomed and integrated thoroughly into the team, which allows them to play to their full potential. We have a great range of players in the team this year – I’m excited for the new season and to see how well we can perform together.”
   

You could be found stationed on the drum kit at the 2016 promotion party. Are you still as musical as you used to be, and what else do you get up to in your free time?

• “I’ve honestly been slacking with my music recently, but getting a new drum kit is high up on my list of priorities. I’d probably get an electronic drum for the sake of my neighbours. Other than this, I love spending time outside on my bike or playing padel. Leipzig also has a great selection of lakes and parks to explore.”

Do you have a favourite place to go in Leipzig?

• “I’ve got loads – after nine years, Leipzig feels like home to me. I love going to Clara-Zetkin Park or to the Cossi in summer, but I’m especially fond of exploring the region around Leipzig.”
   

In recent years, you have consistently completed a high number of sprints. In the summer, some more strong sprinters joined the club. Are you currently still the fastest in the team?

• “I think I’m still one of the front runners, but I can’t say exactly who is currently in the lead. We’ve acquired a super fast player in Loïs Openda and there are a few others who could give me a run for my money. We’ll have to see who comes out on top in the rankings at the end of the season, but there are definitely more important things to think about than who the fastest player is.”

For example, a home win against Stuttgart. VfB will come to Leipzig confidently following their 5-0 win. How do you rate the upcoming opponent?

• “That’s definitely true. They already strengthened their squad at the end of last season under their new coach Sebastian Hoeneß and showed against Bochum that they are capable of scoring goals. They’ve lost important players, but have also brought in good new signings. It will be a tough task for us, but we’re fully aware of that.

  Nevertheless, we’re determined to win the game in front of our fans. That’s our ambition. We’re really looking forward to having a great home opener in front of an amazing crowd on Friday night. We’re all up for it. Friday night, floodlights, full stadium –  you can’t really ask for anything more.”