San Sebastián (dpa) – Emil Forsberg, who else. “I’ve already done the 500th, and now the 1000th, not bad either,” said the midfielder from RB Leipzig with a grin. “It’s a great feeling.”
He, Emil Forsberg, one of the star players of the Swedish national soccer team with 67 appearances. One who ensured victories and successes at world and European championships with his ingenious passes.
Great mentality and passion
That this same Emil Forsberg was not in the starting XI, as in the first leg. That he could only watch for a good hour again. That he then grabbed the ball after a penalty whistle, scored with nerves of steel, safely and confidently from the point and ended the trembling in the second leg at Real Sociedad San Sebastián and then didn’t even begin to say a word about his initial bank role. All of this is indicative of the side, from which only 11 players can play, under Domenico Tedesco.
“It is not self-evident how everyone contributes to success,” emphasized the 36-year-old, who has been responsible for succeeding the hapless and rather unsuccessful Jesse Marsch since December. “Great mentality, passion, everyone works for each other,” was how Forsberg characterized the appearance of fourth-placed Bundesliga players in Spain in a 3-1 win after the goal in the anniversary game.
The guests led 2-0 through goals from Willi Orban (39th) and André Silva (59th). The Spaniards’ goal in the 67th minute made it exciting again until Forsberg made everything clear in the 89th minute. In the first leg he scored the goal to make it 2-2.
“A great team that conquered the Arena Reale”
The extent to which this squad is currently holding together was also documented by the jubilation at 2-0, when the players jumped up from the bench and hugged and hugged the players on the pitch. “We all want success,” emphasized Forsberg, who once switched from Malmö FF and thus an international club to what was then a second division club. That was in January 2015. His current contract runs until the end of June 2025. It didn’t work out with a title with RB, not yet.
With the performance in the Basque Country, Leipzig proved that the DFB Cup quarter-finalists can also be counted on in the further course of the Europa League. “A great team that has conquered the Arena Reale,” wrote Spain’s sports newspaper “Marca” full of admiration.
“You play football for these European Cup nights. It’s always something special,” said RB midfield driver Konrad Laimer. This Friday, the people of Leipzig will find out in the draw who they are up against in the next European Cup night. The 1001st competitive goal could come as early as matchday 24, then RB will play at newly promoted VfL Bochum.