“I feel extremely comfortable here with the national team. Over the last few years I have played one or two games and scored one or two goals,” said Baumgartner in an ORF interview. In the European Championship preparation games, he wants to continue what the team has shown throughout last year: “It is important to keep this intensity high, put the opponent under pressure early on and find good solutions forward when in possession of the ball.”
In the absence of injured stars David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic, he could also slowly grow into a leadership role. “You don’t become a leader overnight. “This is a process that primarily happens through performance,” emphasized Baumgartner. Then there is the human component. “I try to be the Baumi that I am. Creating something artificially is never authentic. That doesn’t work either.”
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“I like to take responsibility”
It has to be within you whether you are a player “who opens his mouth and expresses his opinion”. He definitely sees himself as such. “I like to take responsibility. “I am also someone who likes to express his opinion and who is loud when necessary,” said the Lower Austrian.
The RB Leipzig offensive man cited Thomas Müller as a role model in this regard. “That’s something that makes him strong,” said Baumgartner about the Bayern veteran. “He is certainly one of the most intelligent players I have played against – the way he gives commands, frees up spaces and occupies them. That comes with experience, but it is also a gift.” Baumgartner said his playing style was not at all dissimilar to Müller’s. “Even if he is of course a world-class player.”
Baumgartner on new role in the national team
Due to some injuries, Christoph Baumgartner has taken on an increasingly important role in the national soccer team. In the ORF interview, the Leipzig legionnaire talks about the training camp in Marbella and the upcoming time in the national team.
Baumgartner sees his best position in the national team as the second top position, which he most recently occupied alongside Michael Gregoritsch. In the test against Germany in November (2-0), it “worked very well”. Baumgartner scored a goal and an assist. “With a real nine at the front you have a lot of freedom around him. That’s one of my greatest strengths, being able to recognize and occupy spaces.” In addition, you are the man who initiates the pressing. “It often depends on what the rest of the pressing, which makes us strong, looks like.” But he was by no means stuck in one position. “Depending on what the staff is like and where I’m needed.”
Currently only substitutes at Leipzig
At Leipzig he is currently only needed as a substitute. Baumgartner started one of the last nine competitive games. The reserve role at the club “definitely doesn’t make him despair”. He would like to play more games from the start, but “I’m at an absolutely top club with world-class players, especially in my position. That’s just a fact.”
On the offensive, the Champions League round of 16 has a top-class team with Dutch young star Xavi Simons (20 years old) and Spain’s high-class technician Dani Olmo (25) – plus North Macedonian Eljif Elmas (24), who was Italian champion with Napoli last year . “There aren’t many clubs that can demonstrate such extreme quality.” From that point of view, it’s important to keep going and stick with it.
Baumgartner joined the ÖFB team with even greater anticipation. “I know that long working hours are also good for me physically,” said the Waldviertler. He wants to increase his goal tally again in the test matches on Saturday (6 p.m.) in Bratislava against Slovakia and on Tuesday (8:45 p.m., both live on ORF1) in Vienna against Turkey. His average of 0.32 goals per international match is by far the best in the current squad. Only record national player Arnautovic (36 goals in 111 international matches) moves in these spheres.
Winning goal scored against Ukraine at Euro 2021
Baumgartner has already scored an important goal at a European Championship – with the “sole of Bucharest” in the 1-0 win against Ukraine, which gave Austria its first place in a European Championship round of 16 in 2021. “We have already shown as a team that we can take on a tournament like this and that we can win such close games,” emphasized Baumgartner. The anticipation of the next opportunity is huge. “It’s not long now.”
GEPA/Christian Walgram Baumgartner scored the winning goal against Ukraine at the 2021 European Championship
The Austrians start the European Championship against France on June 17th. With the Netherlands (June 25th) a second cracking group opponent has already been determined. “We now have a self-image in the team that we can annoy any nation,” explained Baumgartner. “But we have to reach our top level. 90 percent will not be enough.” The intensity of training in Marbella is extremely high. “Everyone is at their limit. Everyone wants to show themselves, that’s how it has to be.”
The course is the last chance to get into the limelight again before the European Championships. There are also eight players from the domestic Bundesliga in the 26-man squad. “You can tell that the Austrian league has gained a lot of quality,” said Baumgartner. “There is no difference (to the legionnaires in the ÖFB team, note), they don’t fall away.” The basis of the ÖFB team is now broader. “There are a lot of guys coming up from behind. This is very important. This is the only way you can keep the competition high.”
