Hwang Hee-chan of RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga wants to do his utmost for the good of his new club.
He received the No. 11 jersey at a press event marking his joining the club on Monday, which was held virtually due to coronavirus. He answered questions from reporters in German without an interpreter.
When asked to discuss his position in the team, he said, “I’m a strong runner and love to score goals, but I also like to provide assists here and there. I feel confident in a number of different attacking positions.”
Hwang began his professional career in 2015 with FC Liefering, a feeder club for FC Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga, soon after graduating from high school in Korea.
Hwang transferred from Salzburg to Leipzig last month under a five-year deal. His transfer fee was reportedly around 14 million euros, including options.
He promised to do his best for the club rather than trying to achieve personal goals. He helped his former club to seven consecutive wins with 11 goals and 12 assists in the Austrian league in the 2019/20 season.
When his strength and ability to shoot off both feet were compared to Korean legend Cha Bum-kun, one of the greatest foreign Bundesliga players ever, he said it was a big “honor and compliment” to be compared to him.
Leipzig will face Spanish club Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 13.
Hwang will travel to Lisbon with the team, although he is not on the roster for the match.