Morgan Fassbender: “We Have Everything to Be In the Top Five”

Morgan Fassbender has made an impressive start to life at Korona Kielce. After joining the club from Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza, the German-born forward has quickly established himself as an important part of Korona’s attack.

In an interview with Daniel Sobis for beIN SPORTS USA, Fassbender reflects on his two-goal performance against Widzew Łódź, his move to Korona, adapting to Polish football, his preferred position, working under Jacek Zieliński, the influence of Patrik Hellebrand and Korona’s ambitions for the season.

Daniel Sobis: Let’s start with the Widzew game. Two goals and a big win — what do you remember most from that night?

Morgan Fassbender: Of course, I remember the goals and the feeling after the match. It was a really tough game. They scored the first goal, then I equalized, and a couple of minutes later I scored again to make it 2-1 for us. I also had the chance to score a hat-trick.

Unfortunately, I didn’t, but it was still an amazing feeling to help the team get the win. It was a really great day.

Daniel Sobis: After a performance like that, how much does it change your confidence going into the next games?

Morgan Fassbender: To be honest, it doesn’t change my confidence that much. I would say I already have quite good confidence. I know what I can do, and I know what I have to do better.

Of course, you’re happy after a performance like that, and for the next game you just want to do the same. You put more pressure on yourself. I’m like this — I put pressure on myself, but I like it. That’s why I know it was really good.

Daniel Sobis: Before joining Korona, you played for Termalica. What memories do you have from your time there, not only of the club but also of the area and your life in Poland?

Morgan Fassbender: It was my first stop in Poland. Before that, I was playing in Germany in the 3. Liga, and then I came to Termalica. It was my first time abroad, so everything was different - the language, the dressing room, everything.

At first, I couldn’t communicate with all of my teammates. Some of them couldn’t speak English, so it was a little bit difficult and a little bit weird.

Over time, of course, I learned Polish. Now I understand it quite well. Speaking is still very hard for me, but I understand it and I can speak a little bit.

It was also a really small club without fans. Before that, I had played at a club with a lot of fans, so that was a big change during games. It was always a little bit quiet and awkward. Some home games sometimes felt like friendly matches.

You had to push yourself, but you get used to it. After a while, it was quite good. It’s a calm place and a calm club, so you can focus on yourself and try to get better over time. It was a good step for me.

Daniel Sobis: You see a big difference between Termalica and Korona in terms of the stadium and the atmosphere?

Morgan Fassbender: Yeah, a huge difference. Of course, like I said, the stadium is bigger, the city is bigger, and the expectations here are quite high.

Especially this summer, we brought in quite good players, so the expectations are high. But this is what I like. This is what I was looking for, a bigger club with higher expectations.

Daniel Sobis: This is your second year in the Ekstraklasa. What is your opinion of the league in general, and how would you compare it with the 3. Liga in Germany?

Morgan Fassbender: It’s really hard to compare, to be honest, because the football is different.

The football in Germany, I would say, is a bit more tactical. In the Ekstraklasa, it’s really hard and tough. There’s a lot of running, a lot of challenges and also a lot of aerial challenges.

It’s just different, and it depends on what suits you more as a player. For me, I’m really happy to be here because I like this style of football. There are a lot of sprints, high-intensity runs and one-on-one duels. I really like it, and I think it suits my strengths more.

Daniel Sobis: You’ve played in a few different positions during your career. Where do you feel you can have the biggest impact for Korona?

Morgan Fassbender: I feel quite good on the left side. I’ve scored my last three goals this season from there, so I feel very comfortable.

But I can also play as a number nine or on the right side, as a number seven. For now, though, as a number 11 on the left side, I feel quite good.

Daniel Sobis: Let’s go back to your move to Korona this summer. What made Korona the right move for you, and what were you looking for in your next step?

Morgan Fassbender: For me, I wanted to stay in Poland. I had other offers from abroad, but I wanted to stay in Poland.

My agent was speaking with Korona and also with one or two other clubs in the Ekstraklasa. I wanted to make a change because we got relegated, and of course I wanted to stay in the Ekstraklasa.

Then we had a friendly game against Korona. I knew my agent was already talking with them, and I played the last 15 minutes. I thought I played quite well.

After the match, I called my agent and said, honestly, “If Korona don’t call you after this game, I think they will never call.”

Those were my words. Then, one or two hours later, they called my agent and said they had seen me live, liked what they saw and wanted to make the deal happen.

I was really happy because I could stay here in Poland and continue playing in the Ekstraklasa.

Daniel Sobis: You had Marcin Brosz at Termalica and now you have Jacek Zieliński at Korona. What is the biggest difference between the two managers?

Morgan Fassbender: Of course, the style of play. At Termalica, we played with five at the back and were more defensive, I would say. Now at Korona, we play with four at the back and in a more attacking style. That’s the biggest difference.

In terms of personality, I would say that, as a player, I don’t speak a lot with the coaches, to be honest. The coaches know what they can get from me, and I know what I can get from the coaches.

For me, it was easy to work with Marcin Brosz, and now it’s easy to work with Jacek Zieliński as well.

Daniel Sobis: How is the dressing room at Korona? There are quite a few international players, as well as Polish players. What is the atmosphere like?

Morgan Fassbender: It’s really special, I have to say. I’ve been at quite a few clubs during my career, and the players at Korona are so helpful. I never experienced that before, to be honest.

From the first day I came, everybody tried to help me. I was thinking, “What’s going on here? Why is everybody so kind?” I was a little bit shocked.

It’s a really good atmosphere. There aren’t really groups, everybody can speak with everybody. You can speak with the Polish players, and the foreign players can speak together as well.

It’s really good. It’s like one big group, and everybody tries to help each other to get the best out of the team. It’s more like a family.

Daniel Sobis: Who are the leaders in the dressing room?

Morgan Fassbender: It’s hard to pick just one. Of course, a player like Nono, he’s been in Kielce for a long time, and he’s a little bit older.

Then there’s Dlugosz. He’s Polish and he’s from Kielce, so he knows a lot of people here and knows a lot about the city. He’s always someone you can go to and ask about something - whether it’s a barber or something else.

Remacle also helps a lot. So there are a few players who are, let’s say, leaders.

Daniel Sobis: And the funniest guy?

Morgan Fassbender: Definitely Nono. One hundred percent. Definitely. 

Daniel Sobis: I’d like to ask you about Patrik Hellebrand. How important is he to the way Korona plays?

Morgan Fassbender: I would say he is our pulse in the game. He gives us the rhythm. He can calm the game down, he can make the game faster, and he’s always someone you can give the ball to knowing he won’t lose it.

No matter what happens, if you pass the ball to him, the ball will still be on our side. He’s really, really important in the game. He’s a fantastic football player, really a fantastic football player.

And he’s also a fantastic person. Even better as a person than as a football player, to be honest. He’s a really great guy.

Daniel Sobis: He’s stayed in Poland despite a lot of rumors that he could move abroad. I sometimes compare his style to Xavi Hernández, obviously a different level, but the way he’s always looking for the ball and looking for the pass.

Morgan Fassbender: Yes, he’s the best number six, no? For me, he’s the best six in the league.

He’s such a great player, but he’s also so humble. So humble. And that’s important too. When you see such a great player who is so down to earth, it’s hard to be arrogant. You just try to be like him.

Daniel Sobis: What do you believe Korona can achieve this season? What is the challenge?

Morgan Fassbender: Of course, we want to finish in the top five, to be honest. We want to reach the top five so we can qualify for Europe.

But it’s a really long way to go, and it’s hard. It’s not easy because there are a lot of teams that want to be at that level of the table.

But I think we can do it. I think we can achieve it because we have great players, a great atmosphere at the club, a great coach, great staff and really great fans.

I think we have everything to be in the top five. Now it’s on us. We have to show it week by week.

Daniel Sobis: If you could build a five-a-side team from other players in the Ekstraklasa, who would you choose?

Morgan Fassbender: I have to choose myself!

Daniel Sobis: You can choose yourself if you want.

Morgan Fassbender: No, I won’t choose myself. I’ll be the coach.

In goal, I have to choose Dziekonski. He’s fantastic, especially for five-a-side because he can play with his feet. I need a goalkeeper who can play like this.

At the back, I’d go with Gabriel Isik. He’s not playing in the Ekstraklasa anymore, but I can still mention him. I played with him at Termalica. He’s a great player.

I’d also choose Patrik Hellebrand.

I don’t want to play with too many defenders. I’m more attacking, I want to score goals!

In midfield, I’d go with Remacle. And I really like Ousmane Sow from Jagiellonia, the new winger.

And up front, definitely Mariusz Stępiński. I think it’s a good mix of players.

Daniel Sobis: Do you think Mariusz Stępiński has everything to score 10, 15 goals or even more this season?

Morgan Fassbender: Of course. He’s done it already. I don’t remember exactly when, but a couple of years ago he played in the Ekstraklasa and scored goals.

So he’s done it before, and obviously he can do it again.

Daniel Sobis: Personally, what would have to happen for you to look back at this season and say, “I really took another important step in my career”?

Morgan Fassbender: First of all, I have to stay healthy. That’s the most important thing.

When I’m healthy, I want to score more goals than last season, of course, and give a good number of assists. And then also finish in the top five with the team.

If I can achieve all of those things, then I’ll be really, really happy.

Daniel Sobis: Your next game is against Raków Częstochowa. It’s going to be a difficult game. How are you and Korona preparing for it?

Morgan Fassbender: My preparation is always the same. It doesn’t change whether you play against Raków or Górnik.

As a team, of course, we prepare differently depending on the opponent. Raków play with five at the back and they’re a really intense team. They’re not like Górnik, who always want to keep the ball. Raków play more directly and straightforwardly.

Of course, we’ll be aware of that and prepare for it. But overall, we want to play our style. We want to play our Korona style, our way.

We want the other team to have to adapt to us and look at what we’re doing. We don’t want to focus too much on what the other teams do. We want to focus more on what we can bring to the table

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