National team player Korina Janež in an interview for Football Planet: “Once in the Champions League, and already the next year at Euro in Switzerland!”
Photo: RB Leipzig Frauen
Before it became clear that she would be looking for a new club already this summer, we called Leipzig. This time, instead of Benjamin Šeško, who shines in the elite Bundesliga, we turned to the women’s team, where Korina Janež has been earning her bread for the second season. The 20-year-old footballer will conclude her journey at Leipzig at the end of the season after two years and will seek her luck elsewhere in the future. In anticipation of the end of the season and the summer holidays, which will probably be more stressful than usual due to the search for a new club, Planet Football spoke with the talented member of Leipzig and regular Slovenian national team player, Korina Janež.
Photo: RB Leipzig Frauen
Still very young, you went to play football in Germany. You are currently finishing your second season there, the first among the German elite. What were your experiences and what challenges did you face when transitioning from playing in Slovenia to playing in Germany?
Yes, at eighteen, right after finishing high school, I went to Germany. There I joined RB Leipzig, which was then still a second division team. But an ambitious second division team. This was immediately very positive for me. If the ambitions materialize, for me, this means one year of playing in the second division, in the meantime learning to speak German, settling in, and getting used to a new city, country, and culture. During the expected promotion to the first division, our team had quite a few really nice achievements. The challenges were different for me. First, I had to get used to working at the club and then to the language and culture.
The first month was difficult to adapt and catch the rhythm, as I did not understand the language well enough, which consequently also meant that I was not relaxed. Then you gradually settle in and everything falls into place, and finally, I could play football relaxed. To some extent, I also had to get used to greater professionalism than I was used to before. But I would say that the biggest challenge was mental preparedness. You also have to face failures and setbacks. At this level, you have to be 100% all the time because they let you know that everyone can be replaced. All of the above helped me in my mental preparation, which also strengthened me as a person.
What did you like most about playing for Leipzig? Are there big differences between the second and first division, or is the transition “natural”?
I definitely enjoy playing in the Bundesliga. Every week I face players who play at a very high level and have already won a lot, some even the Champions League, as well as world and European championships. I also like the opportunities and events where, as a player of such a big club, I can participate. There is a big leap between the leagues, but it should be emphasized that the second German league is still very good. There, mostly very talented and young players play, who also play in the youth teams of national teams and gain experience for playing among the elite.
Was it difficult to adjust to life off the field in Germany?
It took some time, of course. Despite understanding the language quite well, I needed time to get used to everything. But everyone in the club and around it welcomed me nicely, and I now have some really good friends here.
The men’s team also has Benjamin Šeško. Have you ever met, exchanged a word? We know he is a real star in Germany, especially in Leipzig. Do you also sometimes get recognized on the street and greeted?
Despite playing for the same club, I have to admit that we met maybe once or twice. He’s really doing well, people appreciate him. What he does is commendable. I think we were supposed to have some joint shoots, but for certain reasons, they were later canceled. It’s hard to coordinate schedules between the two teams. Especially the men’s team, of which Benjamin is a member, is extremely busy.
Bundesliga matches definitely require a little more from the footballer. How do you motivate yourself and maintain focus to always give your 100% for the team?
The matches are demanding. As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of top-notch players in the league. This requires you to make decisions very quickly, and you really need to be 100% focused for the full ninety minutes. Especially teams like Bayern and Wolfsburg will take advantage of every mistake you make. Personally, I don’t have trouble with motivation because I really love football and give my all in every training session and match. It’s definitely harder for me in moments when I play less, but those are the moments when you have to work hard in training and fight for your place in the starting lineup in the next match.
How would you describe your playing style? Is there any footballer who particularly inspires you in your game?
My playing style is based on playing on the ground, technical football with more possession, turning sides, and then looking for a pass into depth. This year, when we compete in the Bundesliga, such football is much more difficult for us compared to last year. My favorite player is Andrés Iniesta, as I support Barcelona, which can boast of exceptional players throughout its history. Currently, I am truly amazed by Aitana Bonmati, a member of the Barcelona women’s team, from game to game.
You have already played many games at an extremely high level, both in the national team and the club. Which game or which moment has stayed with you the most and why?
It’s hard to say, I’ve already had the opportunity to play some really big games. I would mention the match last year against Eintracht Frankfurt, when we defeated them in the cup, and I was in the starting lineup. In the cup, we made it to the semi-finals, which is an exceptional achievement for a second division team. And then the match against the England youth team when I scored for a 1-0 lead. It is an honor for me to play for Slovenia, so every match for the senior national team stays with me. In the senior national team, I have to mention the match against Belarus when I started in the starting lineup for the first time. There I also scored a goal, which was later recorded as an own goal.
What are your personal goals and expectations for the future?
I want to play at the highest level and regularly represent Slovenia as well. With Slovenia, I would like to qualify for a major tournament. In terms of my club career, I would like to play in the Champions League. I could say that my expectations are high, but I will definitely have to put in a lot of work to achieve all the set goals.
The Slovenian women’s national team is ranked higher with every update of the rankings. Can we therefore say that women’s football is progressing in our country? How do you see the future of women’s football in Slovenia, and what do you think we are missing so that maybe the women’s national team follows the path of the men’s and qualifies for one of the major tournaments for the first time in history?
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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