We spoke with RB Leipzig and Hungary goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi about his early years in Budapest and Liverpool, his good and dangerous experiences in England’s decrease leagues, the Crimson Bull group’s secrets and techniques of success, and why he speaks up about social points. The dialog’s been edited for size and readability.
theScore: Was it a tradition shock to maneuver from Budapest to Liverpool at such a younger age?
Peter Gulacsi: I moved to the academy of MTK Budapest once I was 15, and we spent the entire week there and solely went dwelling for the weekends. So, I sort of acquired used to being away from my household throughout these two years. However in fact, transferring to a different nation is a complete completely different story. I used to be very fortunate that I lived with a very nice household in Liverpool originally, so I sort of had a second dwelling there. That helped me to settle in, to get to know the town, and to remain in a well-recognized setting. I acquired my very own residence after one 12 months, however by that point I used to be already prepared for this step. I used to be used to being overseas.
theScore: How lengthy did it take you to grasp Scouse?
Gulacsi: I realized English at school however it’s a totally completely different story if you arrive and also you hear folks speaking. I feel I acquired used to it fairly shortly. I left Liverpool nearly 12 years in the past now, however I nonetheless perceive Scouse lots higher than every other accent. As soon as you reside there, it isn’t that troublesome. I do know that individuals outdoors of Liverpool say it is perhaps not the nicest accent, however I feel it is a good one.
theScore: Was there one thing particularly that sums up the variations within the services and expectations at MTK and Liverpool?
Gulacsi: MTK at the moment had a very nice academy. However in fact, coaching at Melwood with the primary staff of Liverpool – this is rather like a complete utterly completely different world. We had the whole lot there. However it’s not simply concerning the services – it is extra concerning the setting, the folks, and the gamers. So, for instance, I began coaching in preseason, when the nationwide staff gamers have been nonetheless on holidays, however we nonetheless had gamers like Jamie Carragher there. Then, a few weeks later, the nationwide staff gamers returned: Xabi Alonso, (Steven) Gerrard, Fernando Torres. Having the possibility to coach with these gamers after which be an everyday first-team member was an unbelievable expertise at 17.
theScore: You labored underneath Rafael Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool. Who do you suppose gave you the largest likelihood?
Gulacsi: Having the identical supervisor in Rafa, and the identical goalkeeping coach with Xavi Valero, for the primary three years gave me the possibility to develop. I performed for the reserves earlier than I used to be loaned out in my second season to Hereford United and in my third season to Tranmere Rovers. Then the modifications occurred. It isn’t simple for an inexperienced, younger ‘keeper to get an opportunity and make steps ahead when the membership goes by way of troublesome occasions. Managers are at all times underneath stress from the start. So, I’d say the second a part of my Liverpool time was not really easy. However nonetheless, I managed to go on mortgage yet one more time to Tranmere after which to Hull Metropolis. I sat on the bench, I feel, over 50 occasions for the primary staff however I by no means performed a minute. It was a incredible expertise to work with completely different managers – actually, actually good managers – and likewise with (goalkeeping coach) John Achterberg for 3 years. The entire six years have been a vital expertise for me.
theScore: Hereford, Tranmere, and Hull appear to be unlikely locations for a future Bundesliga star. What did you be taught at these golf equipment?
Gulacsi: Various things. In Hereford, that was the primary time I used to be a No. 1 after being third alternative at Liverpool and taking part in for the reserves. You notice right away, it is a complete completely different stage. It’s extremely bodily, a whole lot of motion. You are underneath stress. It was an vital expertise. In Tranmere, the state of affairs was actually good for me, as a result of I may practice with Liverpool and solely needed to do the prematch coaching and the video games at Tranmere. So, I sort of stayed in a prime soccer setting, however had the possibility to play often on an excellent stage.
At Hull Metropolis, I had the possibility to play within the Championship, which is a really aggressive, very robust league. I used to be on the bench after I did not carry out nicely within the first three video games. I used to be not convincing, I used to be perhaps taking too many dangers, and I wasn’t intelligent sufficient as a goalkeeper. It isn’t at all times concerning the good experiences. Typically it is about studying from these errors you make and the time at Hull was positively one the place I may be taught lots. After I acquired the possibility in Salzburg, I knew learn how to be a No. 1 ‘keeper.
theScore: How did Crimson Bull Salzburg know you have been able to play first-team soccer for them after your expertise at Hull?
Gulacsi: I heard they scouted me once I performed for Hungary Beneath-21s. After the season at Hull, I went again once more for a complete season at Liverpool whereas nonetheless taking part in for the Beneath-21 staff in Hungary.
I feel Salzburg have been on the lookout for a goalkeeper who was taking part in for a prime staff; a contemporary goalkeeper who’s taking part in nicely behind the protection, good together with his ft, and studying the sport. And naturally, for those who play for Liverpool, you are primarily dominating the video games – even with the reserves. You at all times must make good selections and to construct up the sport. They have been on the lookout for such a goalkeeper, in order that they scouted me and selected me ultimately.
theScore: How did the coaching setting in Salzburg differ to what you skilled earlier than?
Gulacsi: I used to be primarily second or third goalkeeper once I skilled with Liverpool’s first staff. You are primarily there to help the No. 1 ‘keeper and keep out if the outfield gamers wish to do additional taking pictures apply.
While you come to a membership and you are the No. 1 ‘keeper, it is a completely different story. Your predominant goal is to organize your self for the sport on the weekend. It’s a must to be absolutely mentally and bodily match. The professionalism at Salzburg was one thing you can evaluate to Liverpool. It is a actually organized prime skilled membership in a smaller league, however with incredible services and potentialities. It was a very good alternative.
theScore: When do you know a transfer to Leipzig was a chance?
Gulacsi: We began speaking about it someday in April or Could of my second season. I performed precisely 100 video games for Salzburg in two years; the video games within the Europa League have been incredible alternatives to point out myself to a world viewers, and then you definately play within the league the place you will have a whole lot of video games, you’ll be able to be taught, you may make errors. However after two years, I felt I needed one thing extra aggressive than the Austrian league. A possibility from Leipzig got here very early and I used to be satisfied. At the moment, the membership was within the second division, however with the potential and the imaginative and prescient to go to the primary division. I preferred the problem: a younger staff with proficient gamers taking part in in an identical solution to Salzburg. That is why I feel I made the precise choice very, in a short time.
theScore: What do you suppose the Crimson Bull golf equipment do otherwise to different golf equipment?
Gulacsi: I feel most golf equipment try to do comparable issues. You attempt to discover abilities and develop them into prime gamers. In fact, the golf equipment on the very, very prime haven’t got the necessity to try this. They will simply purchase already full, completed gamers for some huge cash. However Crimson Bull at all times has the imaginative and prescient to seek out younger abilities – perhaps not full gamers – with the potential to convey them to a different stage. Current years have proven this method could be very profitable.
theScore: What do you suppose the opposite key components have been to Leipzig’s rise because you joined the membership?
Gulacsi: We had a really robust staff already within the second league. We had most likely seven or eight gamers from the staff taking part in six or seven years later within the Champions League semifinals. It simply reveals the need of those gamers to play for this membership. That is the backbone of the staff. In fact, we at all times handle to herald prime abilities who later grow to be prime gamers and perhaps make the subsequent step of their profession, however the continuity within the membership, to maintain the standard and preserve the performances – it’s extremely particular.
theScore: Out of all of the proficient gamers you have performed with at Leipzig, who’s been the brand new arrival who’s made you go, ‘Wow, who’s this man?’
Gulacsi: Wow, it is troublesome. We have had so many nice gamers. If I begin naming any, I’d neglect somebody. That is perhaps not honest towards the others, however primarily based on the Euros lately, I feel a participant who was very particular – and it is a pleasure to observe him – is Dani Olmo. I feel Dani is a really particular participant. However we had Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Timo Werner. We had incredible defenders with “Ibu” Konate, Josko Gvardiol, Dayot Upamecano. We at all times handle to exchange these gamers with high quality. We’ve a very robust staff now as nicely. This membership is the proper platform for gamers to develop and carry out on the very best stage.
theScore: How did you discover taking part in for RB Leipzig in opposition to Liverpool in an empty stadium in 2021?
Gulacsi: We weren’t allowed to enter the UK due to the coronavirus, so we needed to play in Budapest – our dwelling stadium for the nationwide staff – twice. I nonetheless want for the possibility to play at a full Anfield. That may be particular. Thankfully or sadly, we are going to play at dwelling (on Wednesday). So, hopefully we’ll have that dwelling benefit. It is an vital sport for us and it is one we wish to win.
theScore: What do you suppose RB Leipzig can obtain within the Champions League this season?
Gulacsi: Our state of affairs just isn’t simple for the time being. We began with two defeats in two video games the place we weren’t the worst staff. We misplaced in opposition to Atletico (Madrid) within the final minute, and Juventus acquired a crimson card in opposition to us and we have been 2-1 in entrance earlier than we misplaced the sport. It is disappointing. So in opposition to Liverpool, we’re in a state of affairs the place we now have to start out amassing factors, and we’ll see how the sport goes. However usually our goal stays the identical: We wish to qualify for the subsequent spherical, after which we’ll see how far we are able to go.
theScore: You returned from a severe knee harm a few years in the past. What do not folks find out about what you went by way of throughout that rehabilitation?
Gulacsi: I am going to at all times discuss brazenly about it. I had an ACL ligament harm. I had surgical procedure six weeks later and so they discovered a bacterium in my knee, so I needed to have two additional surgical procedures. That is why my rehab was typical for an ACL harm. It took me eight months to start out operating, which is a really very long time for knowledgeable athlete if you’re used to coaching day-after-day. It is a very irritating time. It took me one 12 months to play one other aggressive sport, and it took me nearly one-and-a-half years to be the No. 1 once more. I realized lots about soccer and about myself. I feel I improved as an individual and as an athlete as nicely. And for certain, I had the time to get well from the quantity of video games we performed up to now. I am having fun with each second now and I am very blissful that I am taking part in 100% match.
theScore: Is the gamers’ workload a giant challenge in soccer? Do you help the likes of Rodri coming ahead and speaking about this?
Gulacsi: One downside is, in fact, the quantity of video games. However the different downside is the stress of not with the ability to relaxation gamers. If coaches lose three video games on the bounce, they’re out of the job. So in fact, you at all times wish to use the perfect gamers. It isn’t simple to at all times suppose long run. It is extra about considering quick time period and attempting to win the subsequent sport. And now with the quantity of video games, the load will likely be increasingly more. So I do not know what the answer is. There aren’t many choices for the gamers, however I hope that in the future perhaps this subject will likely be mentioned, perhaps on one other stage. However for the time being, we settle for the state of affairs and we simply must get on with it.
theScore: You have been very outspoken about social points, together with LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary. Do you suppose it is vital that footballers use their platform to talk up about issues like that?
Gulacsi: It relies upon what sort of individual you might be. And it isn’t one thing we now have to do, however we now have the chance and the instruments. I feel we’re accountable not only for our life, but in addition for different folks’s lives. If we are able to change the world to a greater one, then it is one thing we now have to do or we must always do.
theScore: The place do you suppose you get that perspective from?
Gulacsi: I grew up like this. My mother and father at all times thought these values are vital: Respect different folks and settle for different folks. That is additionally what I’ve skilled in my life. I have been residing in international international locations now for round 17 years. I went to England first, then I lived in Austria, then I got here right here to Germany. I used to be at all times handled and accepted rather well in these international locations and I am very grateful for that. That is how I attempt to deal with folks and I feel if we’re all like this, then perhaps we are able to make this world a bit higher.
