Goalscorer after 2:1 victory

“It wasn’t easy, but I love the pressure”

0:1 down after two minutes, 2:1 ahead after 88 minutes! Ronivaldo was once again the match-winner for FC Blau-Weiß Linz - in the important victory over Altach. With which the Bundesliga promoted team almost secured their place in the league. The 35-year-old talks about crises, pressure and the fight against relegation.  

"Krone": Roni, two Ronivaldo goals and three points against Altach, now eight ahead of bottom club Lustenau! How good is it looking now to stay in the league?
Ronivaldo: It was a big step, but it's not over yet. We still have four finals left.

They were your eighth and ninth goals in the Bundesliga - your very first brace. What does that mean to you personally?
It's always nice to score - I love it. But also situations like the last one with all the pressure.

Even the coach put it on you. He even banished you to the substitutes' bench once recently, saying you weren't good enough.
It wasn't easy. After the injury in December, I couldn't take part in the entire preparation. Then I played twice, got a knock, was injured again. Came back and got a knock again. I could hardly train, but when you're always tired after fifty or sixty minutes, it's difficult. Especially as the coach stood there and said: 'Ronni, we need you! That puts pressure on you, but I love it. I love moments like that too.

But wasn't your inner tension greater than normal simply because of the situation in the table? Have you never been nervous?
But go on! I am before a test - but not when I go out onto the pitch. I'm 35!

Not everyone is so cool. Danilo Mitrovic crossed himself before your penalty against Altach.
I have a lot of respect for gestures like that, but I wasn't nervous before that shot either. I just waited a little longer for the goalkeeper's reaction than I did for the penalty last Saturday in Altach.

Speaking of waiting: How much longer will it take to extend your contract?
My advisor is doing that with the head of sport, you have to understand on both sides that something like that takes time - but I want to play in Linz next season too!