He was a second striker, experimented in the left wing, played as number 10, but mainly in the right wing. In the Champions League

• Savitzer. You need to enjoy the spotlight a little more

  Photo:

  AFP

There is no doubt that the Red Bull Leipzig player that is of most interest throughout Europe is Timo Warner. The 23-year-old striker provides a wonderful season with 20 league goals and is sought after by quite a few top teams on the continent. However, there is another player responsible for the great season of the club - Marcel Sevitzer.

If Warner gets the spotlight because of the goals he scores, the 25-year-old Switzer gets the attention because he's the most special player his team has to offer. The ability to present him tonight in the first match of the Champions League eighth final against Tottenham can be crucial.

Make no mistake, 9 goals and 7 cooking in 27 games in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, which places him second only to Warner, are fine statistics, but that's not the story of the Austrian national team.

Since immigrating to the Admiral Walker Group in his homeland, Sbitzer has played many roles. He was a second pioneer, number 10, experimenting on the left and most of his performances to date has been Winger on the right. Now, his coach Julian Nagelsman, who emerges as one of the continent's future coaches, has decided to challenge him in a new role - a central midfielder.

About two weeks ago, in a season game against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena, Savitzer opened in the center of the field, provided a great game and although his team did not win (0: 0), our believer believed that Savitzer's new role could add another dimension to the Bulls. "He has a lot of good ideas, a fine passing game and a wonderful ability to make the ball," Naglesman explained after the game. "He also loves the role because he understands his importance."

Timo Werner (left). "Marcel is like a coach on the field" // Photo: IP

Indeed, in his new position as number 6, Switzer can combine all his abilities. Alongside the technical abilities he has shown in his previous roles, such as the wonderful Dribble, wonderful delivery ability, speed and ability to conquer gates outside and out of the field, he also shows that he does not run away from physical confrontations and displays impressive aggressiveness and power.

Even before the change of position, Savitzer averaged 3.5 ball saves in the middle third and 2.21 in the defensive third of the field - no doubt data from those who grew in the middle circle.

Who is still impressed with his role in the new position is his friend Warner, who said: "He was like a coach on the field, talked a lot and managed to push us forward." And not just the outstanding striker mentioned the issue of leadership. A team whose average age is just over 23 and struggles at this point in the season to win its first championship in history, a player who, despite his relatively young age, must behave like someone who will accept responsibility, think more of the team than himself and keep an eye on his coach on the grass.
When Leipzig captain Willie Urban was injured in November and it turned out he would be missing for a long time, Nagelsman handed the captain's movie to Switzer. Only four months after starting to work with him, the coach recognized for him the character needed for the position: "When Willie was injured, I decided to choose him as the secondary captain. If I had to make that decision today, I believe she was no different."