Interview

“I’ve really missed this feeling”

In an interview with HSV.de, vice-captain Ludovit Reis spoke about his return to the training pitch, dealing with injuries and setbacks, and his big goal for 2024.

Following three months out with injury due to a shoulder operation, vice-captain Ludovit Reis has been back on the pitch with the team for the first time over the past few days at the training camp in Sotogrande. He’s currently wearing a grey bib, which marks him out as a neutral player who isn’t allowed to be challenged. Just the sight of the 23-year-old Dutchman playing the ball about crisply as usual is enough to give his teammates, coaches and fans a good feeling about the upcoming second half of the season.

“Ludo” spoke about his feelings in between the two scheduled sessions on Saturday in an interview with HSV.de. The box-to-box midfielder opened up on his return to the pitch, the past three months without his beloved football and his big goal for 2024, which is still fuelled by a defining feeling from last year.

HSV.de: Ludo, you’re training with the team again in Sotogrande for the first time since your shoulder operation. How are you doing and what does it feel like to be back on the pitch?

Ludovit Reis: I’m doing really well, thanks. I’m back playing and I’ve really missed the feeling of having the ball at my feet, being on the pitch with the boys and doing what I love most – playing football. It’s simply the most beautiful thing.

You’re currently still being partially integrated into training as a neutral player. How much confidence do you have in your shoulder again?

My confidence is very high. It all feels very secure. I’m already back at 100 percent in my head in this regard, but I also know that I need to be patient. I can’t want too much too soon. I’m currently not getting into many contact situations with the other players and of course I’m missing out on individual duels more than anything. If I can contest individual duels again, then I’ve got a good feeling that I can get back to full fitness quickly.

“I’m grateful that HSV allowed me to do that.”

Gym session: Ludovit Reis is also working on his shoulder’s required stability in Sotogrande.

Are you a patient person in general?

(chuckles) No, in terms of football. However, especially after injuring my shoulder again, I had the feeling that I would need to be more patient on this occasion in order to really get back to 100%. That was also one of the reasons why I decided, in close consultation with my family, to have an operation. In hindsight, that was the right decision.

The injury put you out of action for several months. How did you deal with that?

It wasn’t an easy situation mentally. Three months out is a really long time for a professional footballer. However, I had good people around me in the meantime, above all my family. I did part of my rehab in Amsterdam in order to be near them and also to distract myself. That helped me a lot. I’m grateful that HSV allowed me to do that. This support isn’t to be taken for granted.

You were always at the Volksparkstadion for the matches. How tough was it for you to be a spectator and what did you make of the team?

It was brutally difficult for me. I have to admit that I’m far more nervous as a spectator than when I am on the pitch as a player. I’m just playing the role of a fan – I go totally crazy when we score and I tremble when we make errors. That’s perfectly normal because you want the best for your team. I think that we definitely could’ve picked up more points, but we also put in some really good performances, especially at home.

“My only goal for 2024 is to get promoted to the Bundesliga with this club”

Looking forwards: Ludovit Reis wants to contribute towards a successful second half of the season.

Let’s look forwards: We’re six days into 2024. Are you someone who makes special resolutions for the New Year?

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions in the classical sense, but one thing is certain for me: I’ve still got the same goal as last year. My only goal for 2024 is to get promoted to the Bundesliga with this club. I intended to have an even better season than last year. That’s going to be somewhat difficult due to the injuries, but my sole focus is on this target.

In this context, how tough was it for you to have almost realised this goal in Sandhausen last year and then to have missed out?

The feeling, that we had for about five minutes – all the fans on the pitch, this pure joy and ecstasy -, simply can’t be put into words. It was so good and then it was all snatched out of our hands at the last moment. Therefore, I’m very motivated because I want to experience this feeling again. We’ve now got another chance to get promoted and I want to lead the way.

Leading the way is a good key phrase for the current season, in which you were named as the new vice-captain. To what extent have things changed for you in this role?

I’m a player, who talks to his teammates before, during and after the game and analyses lots of things. That’s always been the case. As vice-captain, it’s even more important for me to take responsibility in this respect this season. It’s also all about continuing to learn, especially from our captain “Bascho”. He’s a big role model for me and I’m happy to know him. Other leading players in our team, such as “Bobby”, “Meffo” or “Ferro”, are also a great inspiration with their work ethic and mentality.

"Everyone here wants to experience that feeling again."

Midfielder Ludovit Reis leads by example and sets the tone for the Rothosen.

How natural does it feel for you to step up and take the lead?

I was always the captain when I played for the academy, so it’s not something new for me. Of course I’m still one of the younger ones, but I’ve seen and learnt a lot over the past six years of my career. Now it’s my job to implement this experience, which is a nice challenge to come up against. My teammates know that I’m a player who likes to get on the ball, is always available to receive it, and likes to take responsibility in games by doing that. A good leader steps up not only on the pitch, but also on the sidelines, for example by always having a positive mindset.

...and pursued his goals with great perseverance: You said in the summer of 2023 that you weren't finished at HSV yet, which is why you're staying in the 2. Liga for another year.

When I set myself a goal, I want to achieve it. I know that we still have a lot to do and invest in order to achieve this target, but the belief and energy is there, which is important because you thrive every day on the desire to improve.

With that in mind, how do you think the first training days over the winter break went?

Everyone here wants to feel the emotion again from last year which I mentioned before. There’s a huge desire to achieve our goal. Everyone is aware of it, everyone wants it. We’re therefore feeling really driven and know that it’s also beneficial for increasing the intensity of our training sessions.

Finally: You’ll be taking on the Dutch league leaders PSV Eindhoven in a friendly tomorrow. As a fellow countryman, what do you make of PSV’s season so far and the clash tomorrow?

I played together with lots of PSV players for the national youth teams and also played against some of them when I was younger. Of course they’ve got a very good team which attracted plenty of attention in the first half of the season. It’s by no means easy to dominate in such fashion in the Eredivisie and additionally qualify for the Champions League round of 16. Therefore, a big challenge and a good test lies in wait for us.