Klaus Gjasula is now 34 years old. But he’s not thinking about ending his career yet. In any case, staying in the league with SV Darmstadt 98 is the priority. And then there is the European Championship in the summer, which the Albanian international has not yet written off.
Even at 34, he still hasn’t had enough: Darmstadt’s veteran Klaus Gjasula. picture alliance / dts agency
Without Klaus Gjasula, the Albanian national team has just lost its friendly matches against Chile and Sweden. The 34-year-old defensive player, who made the last of his 27 international appearances last November in the European Championship qualifier against Moldova, instead trained intensively at SV Darmstadt 98 for the final spurt of the season and the still possible relegation.
“I think that over the past year it has something to do with the fact that I play more often in defense here,” Gjasula said on Tuesday about his exclusion. For Albania, on the other hand, he is a six, and that’s what he was told. “Other players who play in the club every week on the six and do a good job obviously have an advantage.”
Nevertheless, Gjasula, who was born in Tirana and grew up in Freiburg, has not yet written off the European Championships in Germany this summer. “I give everything and try to offer myself,” he says. “I’m not done with it yet.”
Relegation? “Everyone believes in it”
At SV Darmstadt 98, the mood in the team is still harmonious despite the last place in the table, as Gjasula said. “I think everyone believes that we can still achieve our big goal. The last eight games are crucial for that and we will give it our best shot. In the end we will see what that is enough for.”
Darmstadt continues to be without a sports director
It is also still unclear what will happen to Gjasula at club level in the summer. Then his contract ends. “Sure, I feel comfortable here,” he said, emphasizing that he was open to everything. Nevertheless, the situation in Darmstadt is not easy. You don’t know which league you will play in. Numerous contracts are expiring. There is also no new sports director for Carsten Wehlmann, who left at the end of December.
“I want to play as long as possible”
Shortly after the start of the 2021/22 season, Gjasula moved from Hamburger SV to Böllenfalltor. Coach Torsten Lieberknecht values him as a leader, even if he is not a regular starter this season.
If things don’t continue for Gjasula in Darmstadt, ending his career is not an issue for him at the moment. “I’m feeling really good at the moment and I want to play for as long as possible. If my health is good, then I’ll have a few more years to go,” he said.
2024-03-26 18:11:55
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