Svit Sešlar in an interview with Football Planet: “I wanted to play and enjoy, but I also knew that Albert Riera would bring the best out of me”
Text: David Klemen. Photo: Blaž Weindorfer / Sportida
Last year, he left after winning the double crown with Ljubljana’s Olimpija, when he was considered one of the most promising Slovenian footballers and a star of the Prva liga Telemach. This year, after returning from a year in Turkey, he has come back even stronger. Svit Sešlar has started his adventure in Celje in a remarkable way, and before the national team break, during which he will try to lead Slovenia to the U21 European Championship, the 22-year-old midfielder also took some time for the readers of the website Football Planet.
Svit, you returned to Slovenia in a spectacular way: three opening matches and right away three goals! It couldn’t have gone better, could it?
The start of my adventure in Celje has been truly incredible, both from my perspective as an individual and from a team standpoint. We have had three matches, three wins, but we are still not in the position we would like to be. There is still a lot of work ahead; there is a long way to go until the end.
The summer transfer window was quite chaotic in Celje. There were rumors connecting the club with numerous players, but in the end, we can write without false modesty that you were the biggest and most significant reinforcement for the current champions. What made you decide on Celje? Was it because of Albert Riera?
I wanted to play again and enjoy football. When it became clear in Turkey that I wouldn’t be able to play as much as I wanted, I knew that Celje was the right step for me because I enjoyed football the most under Albert Riera. I knew he would draw the best out of me, even though I played with less playing time the previous season.
Was the jump from the Slovenian league to Turkey too big? What is the difference between Slovenian and Turkish football? In your first season there, you played in the second league, which many people here probably underestimate.
The jump was indeed quite significant. When I first heard about the second Turkish league, I thought it would be similar to ours, but already in the first training session, I noticed that it was a completely different level. The biggest difference is mainly the time you have to make a decision, if you even have it in certain situations.
Celje started the new season poorly, but now you are waking up more and more. Does this mean that despite the defeat in Portugal, you can achieve something significant in the Conference League as well?
I believe that for every club that qualifies for a competition like the Conference League, the goal is to actively participate and go as far as possible, regardless of the club’s current situation. These are the aspirations of every club and player. Everyone will give their maximum to shine on the European stage.
Will you be able to do more in home matches, knowing that the pitch at the Celje stadium is in really poor condition?
That is definitely a factor that greatly affects the quality of play and matches, especially in our case, as we want to play a lot and control the rhythm of the game with the ball and tire the opponent with many passes. Therefore, our performance would undoubtedly be even better if the pitch were in top condition.
Celje is the champion, Celje plays in Europe. When will the atmosphere in the stands also match such a successful club? Can you transform Celje from a handball city to a football city?
I wish that Celje would thrive in both football and handball, as it did when I was a child living in Celje. There is nothing better for a player than to play in front of full stands or a full hall. It would truly be nice to feel as much support as possible from the people of Celje. I believe that as the current national champions, we deserve it.
The 2024/25 season will evidently be tense and exciting in the Prva liga Telemach, unlike any in the past. Olimpija, Maribor, Celje – you all achieve very good results. There is also Koper, and let’s not forget Bravo…
Of course, having more strong teams in the league is a good thing, especially for Slovenian football in general, as it raises the level. I think that in the last two years, with qualifications for European competitions, we have shown that Slovenian football is developing more and more each year.
What important role will Svit Sešlar play in achieving the set goals? What can we expect from this, and what do you expect from yourself? Have you returned to Slovenia a better footballer?
I always want more, regardless of whether I play or not. When I know that I am doing something well and working hard for it my entire life, I want to show that on the pitch. Turkey… was certainly a positive experience. Just the training at a higher level and working and playing under a coach like Arda Turan brings new experiences, advice, and progress in my career. Whether this will help improve my statistics, we’ll see at the end of the season.
You mentioned Arda Turan, the Turkish legend. How did you work with the former Barcelona player? Does it still show that he was an elite footballer?
Regarding our relationship during training, we had a good relationship. When we talked, I always felt that he respected me and valued my professionalism and maximum approach in every training session. He didn’t play much with us in training, so I couldn’t assess how good he is now as a coach, but when he did, he was just there for the ‘pep talk.’
The next challenge is at the door: the battle for the U21 European Championship. But are your thoughts already drifting toward the senior national team?
My thoughts are currently 100% focused on the U21 national team, and I’m only thinking about what we need to do to fulfill our dreams of qualifying for the European Championship. Of course, every young player’s dream is to play for their senior national team, but I’m not stressing about being called up. When the time is right, those dreams will come true for me as well.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet