Interview

Benes: “We want to maintain this level of energy, intensity and enthusiasm”

In an interview with HSV.de, midfielder Laszlo Benes talks about the frantic start to the season, his role as a HSV goalscorer and the next order of business, the trip to Karlsruhe. He chats about passion, ambitions and the importance of family.

From deep within his own half, Laszlo Benes sprinted at full pace ahead of three other Rothosen. He remained in front over 50 meters to find himself in the opposition’s box and kept calm, as he finished off an outstanding counter-attack with an equally impressive dink over the goalkeeper to make the score 3-2. His second goal in the space of three and a half minutes was marked by sheer determination. Before that, he had levelled the game at 2-2, coolly slotting home from the spot. These were not the only instances where his influence could be felt on the pitch, as he would later assist HSV’s final goal, which proved to be the knockout blow as the Rothosen won 5-3. That makes three total goal involvements from the midfielder, who was HSV’s second-most productive player last season, scoring six goals and assisting nine.

Nowadays, it’s impossible to imagine HSV playing without Benes, who only arrived from Borussia Mönchengladbach last year, and he has set a lot of goals for himself this season. In this tell-all interview, the Slovakian, capped 11 times by his national team, reveals how he deals with his emotions after big games, the ambitious goals he has set for himself this season, and the role his small family plays in the grand scheme of things.

HSV.de: “Laci”, the game against FC Schalke 04 had everything that football has to offer. How did you feel out there on the pitch?

Laszlo Benes: It was a simply unbelievable game. Games like those are exactly why we play football. It had everything a spectator would want to see: both teams went behind, equalised and took the lead over the course of the game before the decisive goal in the final minute. It was a great game that was charged with an incredible amount of emotion. The opening game is always important to starting the season well. The fact that we managed to win means we can go into our next game with a sense of optimism.

"The chip was the only option – my instincts took over.”

You personally played a massive part in the win, scoring a brace and getting an assist. How would you describe the goals and the ecstasy you felt afterwards?

I’m glad that I could help the team out with my goals. My second goal to make it 3-2 immediately springs to mind as far as this question is concerned: we set off on an outstanding counter-attack – I wasn’t alone, four of us set off and were desperate to score. “Bobby” [Robert Glatzel] passed at just the right time and I didn’t think for a second about taking the ball with my stronger foot. Instead, I just chipped the keeper with my right, as he was covering his near post. The chip was the only option – my instincts took over. After that, the stadium erupted. It was so loud. It’s incredible. You don’t forget moments like that.

You’ve mentioned these amazing feelings on the pitch and in the stands: how was it in the hours after the final whistle for you personally? Surely all that adrenaline has to go somewhere.

(laughs) Yeah, it was really hard to fall asleep that evening. I watched the goals and the highlights over and over again. I also got so many messages from my loved ones and the fans. It’s a great feeling. Generally speaking it’s quite tricky to wind down after evening games, because you get home three or four hours after the game ends. After such an emotional game, like the one against Schalke, it’s pretty much impossible – I hardly slept at all, to be honest.

How surprised were you that you, as a team, managed to win such an amazing opening back-and-forth game against a team that has only just been relegated from the Bundesliga?

We were really looking forward to this match, because Schalke are Bundesliga giants. Against them, we wanted to show without question that we’ve set a lot of goals for ourselves this season, but I wasn’t surprised
with our performance. We showed in the pre-season friendlies that we can play very good attacking football, and we did the same thing in the Schalke game. We deserved to win. Now, it’s important that we take another step forward by winning our next game.

“The club, my teammates, the fans – they all expect me to score goals and get assists. That’s what I aspire towards too.”

You picked up three goal contributions against Schalke in the opening game. You set a new personal best last season with 15 goal involvements – do you think that this is the best period of your career, as far as scoring goals and getting assists are concerned?

I think I’ve already reached a good standard in that regard. I feel amazing and I’m thrilled that I’ve made a good start to the season. The club, my teammates, the fans – they all expect me to score goals and get assists. That’s a given, that’s how people judge attackers. That’s what I aspire towards too – I come into every season with aims and want to improve even more this campaign.

At the start of last season you were one of the new signings. Now you’re in your second season, how have things changed for you?

As a new signing, it takes time to get used to the club, but I’ve been at HSV for a long time now. I feel very comfortable here and play with absolute confidence. I know my teammates’ preferences. I’ve internalised our style of play and know what the coaching staff require from me. In this regard we have an advantage as a team, since a lot of the players have played together for a long time and are well attuned to one another.

Your life off the pitch is key to feeling comfortable on it. There was a big change in your life towards the end of November last year as you became a father for the first time. How has that affected your life?

I’m a big family man, so it marks the beginning of the happiest chapter of my life. My family is unbelievably important to me. It’s great to see my daughter – who’s always in good spirits and has so much energy – after a stressful day. You can see that she’s changing so much at the moment too. Little by little I can get up to more with her, and as a father I face more and more challenges. (laughs) I love being with my family in my spare time.

And, when you get a lot of time off, like in the summer just gone, how is it in Slovakia? Is that where your extended family live?

Exactly. My parents and my brother, who’s younger than me by four years and plays as a goalkeeper in the fifth division as a hobby, live in Slovakia. As do my partner’s parents. When I get a lot of time off, like in summer or winter, we visit them and we’re united as one big family. Otherwise, my parents come to watch our home games. My daughter is supposed to go to her first game at the Volksparkstadion soon. That’s definitely going to be an emotional moment for me.

"I’m looking forward to seeing him again, but there’s no such thing as friendship on the pitch.”

The next game is away from home at Karlsruhe. Last season, this away day was one of the most unpleasant of the whole season. How do you feel about it looking back now and how are you feeling for the trip this time round?

We just had a very, very bad day then. Nothing came off at all. We didn’t perform as well as we should’ve done and the opponent put us to the sword. After the opening game against Schalke, we want to keep up this positive energy, intensity and attacking prowess. That’s important. We have to focus on ourselves and play to our own tune. I’m looking forward to the game, we’re going there to win.

In Lars Stindl, KSC have picked up a famous player, one of the faces of the Bundesliga. You know each other from your Gladbach days, where he was captain. How much are you looking forward to seeing him again?

We’re still in contact with one another. Lars is a great guy, a proper captain and a fantastic person. He’s an unbelievable player. Even though he’s getting on a bit now, he was still scoring goals and making assists at Gladbach. KSC have undoubtedly improved again by picking up a player like him. I’m looking forward to seeing him again, but there’s no such thing as friendship on the pitch. We’ll only give each other a hug and talk about old times once the final whistle’s gone.