3 days ago
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Exclusive interview
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The return of the Premier League this weekend kicks off with a tricky test for newly-promoted Burnley. Earlier this week Transfermarkt revealed that Scott Parker’s side had faced one of the toughest starts to the new league campaign and Saturday’s early kick off against Chelsea is no exception. The Turf Moor side sit 17th in the league table with 10 points from 11 games, which puts them level on points with relegation-threatened West Ham near the bottom of the table. So how difficult has the return to the Premier League been for the Clarets? To find out more, Transfermarkt spoke to goalkeeper Max Weiß about joining the club in the summer, the challenges for facing top-class players each and every week and whether Parker’s side can avoid relegation.
Transfermarkt: Hello Mr. Weiß, you have already spent a few months in Burnley now. How have you settled in?
Weiß: "I have settled in very well. It is really a great team and a cool club. Compared to Karlsruhe, everything is a bit bigger—the facilities and everything surrounding it. Nevertheless, it feels very close-knit because you know everyone, and we maintain a very friendly relationship with each other. That is important and has made it very, very easy for me to settle in here."
Transfermarkt: You have only played in the League Cup so far, but not yet in the Premier League. How do you evaluate your first few months at Burnley?
Weiß: "That was the plan—that I would play less here initially, because it is a very big step from the 2. Bundesliga to the Premier League—especially regarding the pace, the physicality, and the quality of the players. It’s a whole different level, and I needed a few weeks to acclimatize and adapt to the speed. From a personal perspective, my two appearances in the Cup were quite good, they were fun, and they helped me. The FA Cup starts in the winter, and ideally, I'll have the chance to get a few more games then. Until then, it’s about developing as much as possible in training, adapting, and being ready to seize my chance if something happens."
Transfermarkt: You were reportedly shown a "long-term plan." What does that look like?
Weiß: "When you move from the 2. Bundesliga to the Premier League, it’s to be expected that you won’t be the planned number one immediately. Of course, that would have been my wish, but it’s also understandable. In Martin Dúbravka, we have a really good keeper who is a top guy personally and helps me a lot. We benefit from one another in the entire goalkeeping team. Obviously, Martin is a certain age, which is why there isn’t a 25-year-old ahead of me who will guard the goal for another ten years. The plan is for me to improve over the long term, be built up, and then seize my opportunity as soon as it comes."
Transfermarkt: Erling Haaland is currently scoring at will and is one of the best strikers in the world. How do you prepare for opponents like that?
Weiß: "It is completely surreal and crazy. You can’t put it into words. You can't prepare for players like that. I saw it against Manchester City from the bench. Of the 90 minutes, he was completely inconspicuous for at least 70, yet in the end, he was the decisive man with two goals and an assist. That is brutal quality! I spoke to Martin after the game, and during one goal conceded, he felt there was no way the ball could get past him, yet Haaland still put it in. That is exactly the appeal of the Premier League, and that’s what makes the league so awesome—that you can measure yourself against the elite every week."
Transfermarkt: What differences have you already noticed compared to football in Germany?
Weiß: "The football here is much more physical. The referees simply let the game flow much more, and I get the feeling they want that toughness in the game. And the game is much faster, even in training. You have to handle many situations quite differently in the Premier League because you have less time. Corners are an example because you are 'worked on' much more than in Germany. Everyone uses their tricks there. Plus, you have a large number of world-class players who can simply always make the difference. That’s why the league is so special."
Transfermarkt: What is required of a goalkeeper in Germany versus in England?
Weiß: "In terms of build-up play, the development in England has gone towards playing more long balls to reduce sources of error and minimize risk. Corners and crosses are brutal for goalkeepers because something completely different is demanded there than in Germany. You have many clever players who stand in front of you at the last moment or swat your hand away. Neither VAR nor the referee can see that. You get thrown out of your rhythm, have no chance to get the ball, and then you just think, 'What am I supposed to do now?' That’s something that takes time, and you have to find a few tricks yourself on how to react in those specific situations. Some work with a shove beforehand, which doesn't help me, for example, because then I focus less on myself and am more occupied with the other guy."
Transfermarkt: With a market value of 4 million euros, you rank among the most valuable U21 keepers worldwide. Where do you see your development standing?
Weiß: "I have now reached a point where it is about gaining experience. This helps to solve situations differently and bring in more calmness. Now I just have to keep the tempo up, keep working, and improve on and off the pitch. That includes preparation, recovery, weight training, jumps, etc. You should just keep going, set no limits for yourself, and stay on the ball."
Transfermarkt: What are your long-term career goals?
Weiß: "My big goal is, of course, to play in the Premier League permanently. And then I want to fight my way up to eventually win titles. That’s why you play football at this level, because you always strive for more. And then, at some point, you can also think about the national team."
Transfermarkt UK: Last year, Burnley had an outstanding defense. This year, there were 18 goals conceded in six away games, but only four in five home matches. What is the reason for that?
Weiß: "It is always easier to play at home than away. I think that’s normal. Away from home, we made life difficult for ourselves. That’s not because we were impressed by the opponents, but simply because we weren't fully present in every situation. That’s why we got ourselves into this difficult situation. We play really good games, but every mistake, every lapse in concentration is punished mercilessly in this league. We have to stop that and change it. We have a super team and a coach who is also doing very, very good work. That’s why I’m optimistic that we will get a handle on this away from home as well."
Interview by Jannek Ringen
