“Maintain the energy within the team”
When celebrating a goal, it is par for the course to congratulate the player who scored the goal as well as the one who provided the assist. But when the team took the lead against Fürth, the focus of the players’s attention wasn’t only on Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Marco Richter. Players also rushed to Deyovaisio Zeefuik. The full back had given away the penalty that handed the visitors the lead, and Santiago Ascacíbar and Admir Hamzagić both embraced the number 42 after the turnaround. "I think they both felt how relieved I was at that moment," said Zeefuik. "That's just the energy we have as a team at the moment and I hope we can keep it up and keep going like that!" The Dutchman, what has been named in Pál Dárdai’s starting XI for the last three games , wants to help contribute to this in the upcoming match in Leipzig. Ahead of Saturday’s clash (25/09/21, 15:30 CEST), the defender spoke to herthabsc.com about the cohesion in the team, the events of the last encounter with Leipzig as well as the upcoming clash.
herthabsc.com: Deyo, the moment that will stay long in the memory of many hertha fans after the 2-1 win over Fürth is definitely the scenes after taking the lead, when you celebrated with the bench. What goes through your mind when you look back at the clip?
Zeefuik: I was just really happy and extremely relieved at the same time! I think I had a good game overall against Fürth, but the penalty was a real shame, of course. If we had lost the game because of that situation... I don't even want to think about it. It makes it even better that Jurgen came on and turned things around with his goal and his energy!
herthabsc.com: You mention the relief because of the penalty - how did you feel in that moment? Until then, you’d managed to keep the opposition at bay.
Zeefuik: That’s how football is sometimes. You can be having a good game overall as a team ad be in control of the game, and then one moment can change everything. In that play, I simply saw the man too late and wasn’t quick enough in my action. Luckily we managed to make it right as a team.
herthabsc.com: In particular, Santiago Ascacíbar and Admir Hamzagić looked like they didn’t want to let go of you during the celebrations. Does that speak of the team spirit that has developed here?
Zeefuik: I think so. Santi is one of my good friends in the team and we’re always pleased for each other when we have a good game. That is simply the energy that we have within the team at the moment, and I hope that we can maintain it and carry on in the same vain.
herthabsc.com: That’s a good way of putting it. You’ve started the past three Bundesliga games. How pleased are you with your season so far, on a personal level?
Zeefuik: Not entirely, to be completely honest. I can and want to play a better overall game. I’m very critical of my own performance. Playing several times in a row helps me though, and I’m sure that I can perform better when I get into better rhythm.
herthabsc.com: One of the new faces at Hertha, who you’ve already mentioned, is a fellow compatriot and someone you already know from the Netherlands U21s: Jurgen Ekkelenkamp. Can you help him settle in more easily?
Zeefuik: We are all doing that together. Jurgen has just arrived and will find his feet more and more at the club with time. He is a nice guy. It helps that he’s scored straight away – if he carries on like that, he definitely won't have any problems becoming popular within the team (grins).
[>]I can and want to play a better overall game. I’m very critical of my own performance. Playing several times in a row helps me though, and I’m sure that I can perform better when I get into better rhythm.[<]
herthabsc.com: Next up is Leipzig. The last trip there was a close affair, before you were shown a a somewhat controversial red card tipped the game in favour of the home side. Does that provide a little extra motivation for you?
Zeefuik: Oh yeah, that was something (laughs)! That wasn’t a nice moment. But I but things like that behind me quickly because there’s nothing else that you can do to change it. I prefer to learn from it and do things better in the next game. This time it will be a completely new and different game and I’ll go into it as focused as always. I hope we can pick up the next win there, or at least come away with a point.
herthabsc.com: The hosts, however, will also be looking for three points in order to make up ground in the table. How can you stop them?
Zeefuik: The basis for a game like this will once again be being ready to put in a real fight on the pitch and then carry out good and clear plays when in possession of the ball. We will only get chances to do that if we are switched on when out of possession from the first minute until the last.
herthabsc.com: A real fight – that sounds exactly like your kind of game…
Zeefuik: …(grins) I hope so! That is the basis that we have to build our game on, especially against a stron opponent. If we can manage to play without fear and be show bravely what we have inside us as a team, then we can definitely come away from Leipzig with something.