Q&AStefan Bajcetic interview: 'Time out made me stronger - now I want to take every chance'

Having broken into the Liverpool senior set-up in 2022-23 with a series of mature performances, his campaign was ended prematurely due to an injury.

Bajcetic was subsequently limited to just three appearances last term, but has fully taken part in pre-season so far this summer under Arne Slot.

With his misfortune now behind him, the midfielder is in a wholly positive mindset and working hard to rediscover his best level and rhythm.

On Sunday, we caught up with Bajcetic at the team hotel in Philadelphia as the Reds’ USA tour continues – read the interview below…

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Stefan, nice to see you. Firstly, how has pre-season been going for you so far?

It’s good. Obviously different with the new manager, a new routine and new staff. My first time as well in America on a tour, so I’m excited to see what the season brings. I was in a tournament here actually when I was a bit younger, in Dallas, but I’ve never been here on holiday or anything. It’s good to be here.

In terms of yourself, it has been a frustrating year-and-a-bit. How difficult was that spell on the sidelines for you?

Really difficult, honestly – probably the hardest year I‘ve had so far, mentally and physically. But I got through it and it only made me stronger, both mentally and physically as well. I’m looking forward now to being back and enjoying what I’m doing.

You mentioned the mental aspect, often players who have been out a long time say the mental challenge is more than the physical. Did you find that? And does it give you even more motivation when you do come back?

Yeah, of course. Just to go on the field every day is hard, in a way, because obviously you see your teammates play every day, every weekend and you want to be there, you feel like you should be there. And you want to get that feeling of playing again, but you’re just not capable of. It’s really hard. Not being able to train regularly with the team, alone in the gym sometimes; it’s really tough but, like I said, it only makes you stronger.

More positively, you’ve had a couple of appearances under your belt so far this pre-season. How is the body and the fitness and the rhythm feeling for you?

Good, good. Obviously after a long time it’s difficult to get into the rhythm I had before, but that’s what pre-season is about. I’m slowly getting my rhythm back and hopefully it will be better in the next few weeks.

It’s a new head coach and a new start for everybody – what has Arne Slot said to you about how he sees your role?

At the moment, obviously I need to first get my fitness back to where it was and get to my level and my rhythm. At the moment, it’s just trying to learn the system and the style of play that he wants. And every time I get the opportunity, just take it and work hard.

How intense is this period, because it’s about building up your fitness levels but you’re also taking in a lot of information from Arne and the coaches as well?

Yeah but we were ready for that; with a new manager it was always going to be a different system and different things, so we were ready for it. Physically, it has been quite hard, to be honest, multiple sessions. But that will only make us better at the end, so it’s good.

We’ve got a couple of exciting games to look forward to this week, Arsenal and Manchester United to come…

Big clubs and teams that we face normally in the Premier League and the cups in England. Big rivalries as well, so hopefully we can get the wins.

Just finally, away from the pitch we hear a rumour you’re the king of table tennis in the team hotel. Is that true?

[Laughs] I could be on my day! But not always. Kaide Gordon sometimes is there as well, there’s a couple of players that are good. I used to be better I think, but now with injury I’ve been off for a couple of years.

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