Leon, do you know the meaning of the German word ‘Angstgegner’ (nemesis)?
Yes, I know it (he grins).
You could say: You are the ‘Angstgegner’ of Bayern Munich. You’ve scored four goals in five games against the best defence in the Bundesliga – alongside RB Leipzig. How do you explain your record? You haven’t scored more goals against any other Bundesliga club…
I think FC Bayern are one of the best teams in the world. Every time I play against them, it feels like a Champions League final. I automatically give 110 per cent. I’m a young player and if I want to make it to the next step, I need to perform against these teams because these are top notch teams. That’s why games like this are so important.
You were the matchwinner in the clash in Munich last November with your two goals. The 2-1 victory was the first win for the Werkself in Munich since 2012. What can you remember of that day?
That day was a very special day for me and I’ll definitely never be able to forget that. The three points were important for the team and for the club as well – above all as we were very lucky too. But anyway. It was a great moment for us and for the fans.
You scored the first goal with your right and the second with your left foot.
It was just an instinct when I got the ball with both foot I just shoot because I know: If you don’t shoot, you’ll never score (he laughs). After the first goal, I celebrated like I’ve done so often. And when I scored the 2-1, I felt that we were going to win. Then I did the W for Win with my fingers. The best goal against Bayern Munich was definitely the free kick in the home game that we won 3-1 in the end (2 February 2019, ed.).
Do you prefer games against top teams like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Leipzig? You’ve scored against all three this season…
I live for games like that. I want to leave a legacy for my people of Jamaica and to show them that there’s hope and the possibility for people if you work hard to achieve something. And these are the games I need to do it in to showcase my talent and showcase that I want to reach to the top.
The coronavirus pandemic is also affecting life in your homeland at the moment. How are your relatives getting on in Jamaica?
Fortunately they are all healthy. I’m in daily contact with with my family. There’s lockdown in many places in Jamaica. They’re not allowed to leave their houses or neighbourhoods. Jamaica is a small country that unfortunately doesn’t have the necessary resources to fight the virus. That’s why I try to help out with food or money as much I can from so far away.
Let’s finish with a look to the future: Nobody knows if and when the Bundesliga season will be completed. How do you manage to maintain motivation in light of that?
I think positively, I’m basically a positive person. Of course, I miss being on the pitch with the team and being cheered on by the fans. But when it gets going again, we’ll be ready as a team.
Bayer 04 midfielder Ibrahim Maza was honoured in Paris in the Best Algerian Young Player category at the Fennec d'Or awards for the Algerian Footballer of the Year, organised for the first time by the football journal La Gazette du Fennec. "It's an honour for me," said the 19-year-old, delighted with the award.
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