Standing on Premier Leaguer pitches, faced with the likes of Raheem Sterling, has proved a far bigger leap for Rasmus Kristensen than he expected at Leeds United. The 25-year-old arrived for around £10m in the summer from Red Bull Salzburg, where he was dominating domestic flanks.
That domination, from playing for a title challenger to a recovering relegation candidate, was swiftly replaced by a steep learning curve for Kristensen. The Denmark international has been backed by Jesse Marsch and he only missed the last game through injury, but it’s clear he has not adapted as quickly as some of his fellow new arrivals.
Speaking with the Danish newspaper B.T. while on international duty, Kristensen opened up on the challenges he had faced so far. He said: “You hang on tooth and nail to be able to keep up and it moves you.
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“I can also feel that on myself just from match one to match five. There has already been progress and it will get better and better.”
Kristensen delivered seven goals and four assists from 29 matches in Austria last season as a right-back. With zero attacking involvements in the opening five games for the Whites, he is seeing that transition to one of the big five leagues.
“Where I may have been a leader in terms of physique and intensity in Austria, it is equalised on a completely different level now,” he said. “It has also been a challenge for me to have to accept it.
“I felt I was well prepared for it, but it's something else when you stand there. So it's been great to get started and find my place in it.”
Marsch has not spoken in a press conference since the immediate aftermath of the loss at Brentford earlier this month, so an official update on the Dane’s injury has been lacking until now. Kristensen’s inclusion in the Denmark squad was a good sign at the very least, but he has confirmed his return to fitness.
“I'm completely ready,” he said. “The last Leeds game was over two weeks ago, so I am completely ready.”
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