Team

“Playing at the Volkspark again – that’s the big picture in my mind”

Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit is in the middle of his rehab after suffering another injury setback. Away from that work, he has also started to reconnect with football – and has been talking to Sander Tangvik about the World Cup.

Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit has caught World Cup fever. For understandable reasons, the 19-year-old Norwegian had kept football at arm’s length for a little while, but that relationship is now being repaired. The World Cup has helped. “When the national team play, it almost feels like you have to watch. But I genuinely enjoy watching the games too,” Rössing-Lelesiit told HSV.de. Not so long ago, things sounded rather different, with the youngster admitting that a bit of distance from the game had done him good.

The background to that is clear. Rössing-Lelesiit suffered an ankle injury in January before a setback in April forced him to start the entire process again. During the run-in last season, there had been a spell when it looked as though he could yet become an option for the squad. Instead, he needed another operation, another period of rehab and, above all, more patience. This time, though, he knows what the road back looks like.

“It really helps to always know what the next step is. That means I’m much calmer about the situation than I was the first time,” explained Rössing-Lelesiit, who trained with rehab coach Sebastian Capel at the Volkspark for the first time again on Monday. “It felt good. I’m slowly getting to the point where I can put pressure on the ankle again. Right now, it’s about becoming more mobile and building muscle step by step.” The performance tests next Monday and Tuesday (6th/7th July), will still come too soon for Rössing-Lelesiit. HSV’s no. 38 admitted: “I really miss seeing the other lads and speaking to them.”

Until recently, Rössing-Lelesiit had been back in Norway, spending time with family and friends. “They support me a lot by telling me that everything will be okay and that I’ll make it back. That gives me a lot of strength. When I’m with them, I also don’t think quite as much about how and when I’ll get back onto the pitch,” said Rössing-Lelesiit, who also had school exams to sit back home – and passed them. Naturally, there was plenty of World Cup football on too.

“I really believe they might even be able to reach the semi-finals,” said Rössing-Lelesiit, looking at Norway’s chances. “They’ve done a really decent job so far. The first game is never easy because there are always a few nerves and expectations are high, but they handled the pressure really well against Iraq. After that, they also beat Senegal.” The 4-1 defeat to France, perhaps understandably, did not feature in the U19 international’s assessment.

Norway now face Ivory Coast in the round of 32 at 19:00 CEST this Tuesday evening. Sander Tangvik will be right at the heart of it. “I’ve spoken to him a little bit about what it’s like over there. But we don’t need to speak every day. He knows I’m behind him and the national team either way,” stressed Rössing-Lelesiit, who will be keeping a close eye on events at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

For Rössing-Lelesiit, though, there is an even bigger target driving him on. “I have one big picture in my mind: playing football at the Volkspark again,” he said with determination. “Standing out there on the pitch is special every single time. I know exactly how to get there. I have to take it step by step and not take any shortcuts.”