Soccer Star Stanisic: "Negative Mood isn't the Solution"
And here he is, on the brink of cup final glory for the first time, and suddenly, he's setting up goals! Josip Stanisic is on a roll, racking up three assists in a week. "I've never done that before," he chuckled after Bayer Leverkusen's thrilling 3-1 win against SC Paderborn in the cup round of 16. "But you always keep improving."
Before his recent goal-scoring feats, Stanisic's last assist had been over two years ago. Yet, despite these personal achievements, the 23-year-old Croatian still feels he could be doing better. "Things could be going better for me personally," he admitted. "But the team's unbeaten streak in 21 competitive games is still the most important thing for me."
Stanisic joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan from serial champions FC Bayern Munich, hoping for more playing time. Ironically, he might have had more appearances in Munich with Benjamin Pavard's departure. But the young defender is content with his role at Bayer, praising the exceptional performance of Odilon Kossounou.
"It's what it is," said Stanisic about his reserve role. "I came later, then I was sick, and Odi is doing an outstanding job." With Kossounou and Edmond Tapsoba set to depart for the Africa Cup, Stanisic will have his chance to shine.
Interestingly, while Stanisic has yet to reach a final with Bayern, he's still in the cup with Leverkusen, leading the Bundesliga table ahead of his parent club. Meanwhile, Bayern, with whom he's never reached the final, is still in contention for major titles in Germany and Europe.
Stanisic remains grounded, focusing on his performance and the team's success. "Negative mood doesn't help," he said. "Even when I'm in a better mood, there are days when I'm not." But he's determined to keep improving, using his past experiences to fuel his ambition.
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Enrichment Insights:
- Personal Growth and Performance Improvement: Stanisic's loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen significantly boosted his playing experience and overall performance. He improved his maturity, developed a new mindset, and increased his confidence on the field.
- Role at Bayern Munich: Upon returning to Bayern, Stanisic brought a renewed sense of responsibility and solidified his position in the team. His ability to play across the backline provided head coach Vincent Kompany with additional defensive options.
- Injury and Return: Stanisic suffered an injury to his right knee before the 2024 Bundesliga season, which forced him to miss the remainder of the year. However, he returned in January 2025, contributing to Bayern's success and proving his resilience on the field.
