Leo Sauer Interview: Feyenoord Winger Speaks Out on Injury and Slovak National Team Situation

Leo Sauer has broken his silence in a candid interview with Šport.sk, addressing the muscle injury that forced him off during Slovakia’s playoff match against Kosovo and the growing friction between Feyenoord and the Slovak Football Association.

The 20-year-old winger, currently on loan at NAC Breda from Feyenoord, spoke openly about the circumstances surrounding his substitution in the 2025–26 UEFA Nations League promotion playoff first leg, a match Slovakia lost 3–4 to Kosovo on March 27, 2026.

According to Sauer, he felt discomfort in the final moments of the first half and was replaced by Tomáš Suslov. Subsequent medical examinations, including an MRI scan conducted on March 28, confirmed a muscle injury, though the Slovak winger emphasized that the issue was not severe enough to warrant long-term concern.

“I felt a tightness in my thigh as we approached halftime,” Sauer said in the interview. “The team doctor advised me to come off, and I agreed. It was the right call to avoid making things worse.”

The injury has since become a focal point of criticism from Feyenoord, who claim their medical recommendations regarding Sauer’s involvement in international duty were disregarded by the Slovak national team staff.

Feyenoord officials stated publicly on March 30, 2026, that they had advised against Sauer playing in the playoff match due to accumulated fatigue and minor physical concerns observed during his loan spell at NAC Breda. The club alleges this guidance was ignored, leading directly to the muscle strain that now sidelines the player.

“Our recommendation was not followed,” a Feyenoord spokesperson told Slovak media outlet Sport.sk on March 30. “We communicated our concerns clearly, but the decision to field him was made regardless.”

The Slovak Football Association (SFZ) has not issued a formal response to these claims as of April 21, 2026. However, Sauer himself sought to downplay any notion of conflict, insisting that both his club and country have his best interests at heart.

“I wish to play for Slovakia whenever I’m called,” Sauer said. “At the same time, I respect what Feyenoord is trying to do for my development. There’s no blame here — just a tough situation that happens in football sometimes.”

Sauer’s loan move to NAC Breda began on August 12, 2024, and has been instrumental in his growth as a professional. During the 2024–25 Eredivisie season, he made 31 appearances and scored seven goals, earning praise for his work rate and attacking versatility on the left wing.

His parent club, Feyenoord, recalled him from loan at the end of the 2024–25 season, and he rejoined the Rotterdam-based squad for pre-season training in July 2025. Despite his return to Feyenoord’s first-team setup, Sauer was subsequently loaned again to NAC Breda for the 2025–26 campaign to ensure continued playing time.

This arrangement reflects Feyenoord’s long-term strategy for Sauer, who signed a three-year professional contract with the club in April 2023 after initially joining on loan from MŠK Žilina in 2022. The Slovak international made his Feyenoord debut on August 20, 2023, coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time equalizer against Sparta Rotterdam.

Since then, Sauer has accumulated 33 appearances and five goals for Feyenoord across all competitions as of March 22, 2026, according to verified club records. His international experience includes 12 senior caps for Slovakia, dating back to his debut in 2024.

The winger’s youth career began at Rača before moving through the academies of Slovan Bratislava and MŠK Žilina. He represented Slovakia at various youth levels, including U17, U19, U20, and U21, before breaking into the senior national team setup under head coach Francesco Calzona.

As of April 21, 2026, Sauer remains under contract with Feyenoord until June 30, 2026, with the club holding an option to extend for an additional year. His current status lists him as day-to-day regarding the muscle injury, with no definitive timeline for return to training provided by either NAC Breda or Feyenoord medical staff.

NAC Breda’s next fixture is an away match against FC Eindhoven on April 25, 2026, in the Eerste Divisie. Whether Sauer will be available for selection remains uncertain, though the club has expressed optimism about his recovery progressing as expected.

For Feyenoord, the focus shifts to preparing for the final stretch of the 2025–26 Eredivisie season, where they are competing for a Champions League qualification spot. Sauer’s potential return to the first-team picture could add depth to their attacking options, particularly on the flanks.

In the broader context, the situation highlights the ongoing challenges clubs face when balancing player development with international commitments — especially for young talents navigating loans, recoveries, and national team pressures.

Sauer’s interview serves as a reminder that behind every transfer, injury report, or tactical decision lies a player striving to meet expectations from multiple fronts. His maturity in addressing the situation publicly has been noted by observers in both the Netherlands and Slovakia.

As the April international window approaches, all parties will be monitoring Sauer’s fitness closely. A full recovery and timely return to action could witness him feature for NAC Breda in their push for promotion playoffs, or potentially earn a recall to Feyenoord’s squad for the season’s concluding matches.

For now, the focus remains on healing. Sauer has emphasized patience and professionalism as he works back to full fitness, trusting the process laid out by his club’s medical and coaching teams.

Archysport will continue to follow Leo Sauer’s progress and provide updates as new information becomes available from official sources.

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