Fresh from making his Premier League debut with Burnley, Max Weiss insists he’s ready to take the number one jersey going forward.
[placeholder image
Read More
Latest next Burnley manager odds as new name enters the frame](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/latest-next-burnley-manager-odds-as-new-name-enters-the-frame-8544713 "Latest next Burnley manager odds as new name enters the frame")
The 21-year-old was given his chance last weekend as interim boss Mike Jackson opted to name him ahead of Martin Dubravka, to give him an experience of first-team football.
But with the former Newcastle United stopper out of contract this summer and widely expected to move on, Jackson wanted to see what Weiss was capable of – with one eye on next season in the Championship.
The former Germany Under-20 international, who did his chances no harm, will now be hoping to start for a second straight game when Burnley travel to Arsenal on Monday night.
Weiss spoke to the local media to preview the game, where he discussed a wide range of topics including his debut, life at Burnley, a potentially daunting clash against the Gunners and his intention to become the club’s number one.
Here’s what he had to say:
Max Weiss thanks the fans following the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at Turf Moor. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Max Weiss thanks the fans following the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at Turf Moor. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
“It was a childhood dream for me to play in the Premier League, in my opinion the best league in the world.
“My parents were in the stadium, all of my friends watched it from home and all of them knew how big that is for me.
“So to play that game, to walk into that stadium and get away with the result was a dream.”
How good was it to have your parents there?
“Yeah, I think they've been to every game last year, they travelled all around Germany just to see the games, they've been with me through thick and thin.
“It was just nice, they were coming either way, then I got the news. I picked them up from the airport and then surprised them that I'm going to play, and they were buzzing.”
How did Mike Jackson let you know?
“So actually I was at home, just chilling, relaxing, on Saturday afternoon. I think around 4pm or something.
“He gave me the call and said: ‘Max, listen, you're going to start tomorrow, enjoy it, you deserve that’.
“So I was buzzing. Then after that, the goalkeeping coach called me and we had a little talk, prepared a little bit, but then just normal routine, what I did last year, and just enjoyed the evening, relaxed and then I got a good night of sleep and then got into it.”
The Burnley Express has launched a new WhatsApp channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our Burnley Express WhatsApp channel.
How nervous were you beforehand?
“I wouldn't say nervous.
“I think there's a little bit of something you feel every time that you're going to play the game, but I think as soon as the whistle goes and the ball rolls, it's going to stay the same game. I've been pretty good to keep telling myself and developing a kind of peace before the game.
“So obviously when I walked in the stadium, there was a little bit of something in the air for me, but as soon as the whistle went, it was alright then.”
Hungry for more?
“Of course, yeah.
“For the whole club, for the whole team, it wasn't the year we were hoping for. But I think when we see the game on Saturday, we played some really good football, we showed how we could play and how we did it, so it felt good that we could show that.
“For me, I made a good game. I want more now, I'm ready and I'm going to be ready.”
Does the Championship offer you more game time? A chance to be number one?
“Yeah, for sure. I think that's my thinking every time I'm going to step on the pitch that I want to improve and I want to play.
“Obviously next year's in the Championship, but still I say that the Championship is an incredible league, you can't even compare it to the second leagues in other countries, so it's a really, really good league.
“We can look forward to that still, prepare where we were, and then go for that, and we're going to go back up to the Premier League hopefully.
“I think when you watch the league and watch the games, I think that everything can happen.
The bottom teams can always beat the first teams up, so it's so good to watch and I think really good to play, so I'm really looking forward to that.”
Off the pitch, how is life in Burnley?
“To be fair, I'm not living in Burnley. I'm living in Manchester just because most of the guys do.
“I enjoy the city, to be fair. It's not too big and not too small for me, but from Germany my city is not as big as Manchester, so it's a little bit bigger for me, but I really enjoy it.
“The connections to back home are good, especially for my parents and my girlfriend who were going to visit me all over the year, so we had a couple of flights there. So I've really been enjoying it off the pitch as well.
“The guys have been really nice to me, accepting me really good in the group chat and everything, so it's nice to be here.”
You’re quite young for a goalkeeper, but do you still feel you’re ready?
“Of course. I think I made my pro debut in my hometown team in the second Bundesliga when I was 17, so that was pretty early.
“To be fair, that's not normal to do that, even in Germany as well, even in the second league.
“Playing as a first-choice goalkeeper last year meant a lot to me, I've been at the club for six years, I love the people over there, so it kind of grew with me, that feeling.
“When I moved over here, I knew it was going to be different for the first year. But playing under Martin Dubravka, with his experience, his quality, I could really learn a lot from Vaclav [Hladky] as well.
“We've been a really good group this year, so it really helped me a lot. It was a good move.”
Keen to test yourself against Arsenal?
“For sure. I've wanted to play every game of the season, but obviously now, when I have my first game, my debut, I just feel like: ‘yeah, I'm at it now, I want to keep playing’.
“I think we can motivate ourselves. It's Arsenal, they're Champions League finalists, so it's a huge game for us as well to just prove ourselves and show that we're capable of competing with these kinds of teams and with the teams in the Premier League.
“It’s a big game for Man City as well, but for us we're just looking at our game and trying to enjoy it and give it our best shot.
“I think it's just going to be an incredible experience. How many fans can you fit in there? 60,000 or something like that?
“It's going to be a huge crowd and one of the best teams in the world right now, so I'm just excited to go there and when I get the nod I'm just going to be ready.”
Continue Reading