Robin Koch ‘can’t rule out’ a return to the Bundesliga but is happy with life at Leeds United, speaking to Sky Sports Germany while hailing Marc Roca’s impact at the Premier League club.
It’s almost two years now since the German international swapped Freiburg for Elland Road in a £13 million deal.
But the fact that the jury remains out on Koch is, perhaps more than anything, the result of circumstance and misfortune.
Injuries have restricted him to just 30 Premier League starts in two seasons. And, during around only half of those appearances, Koch played in his favoured centre-half role, personnel problems elsewhere forcing him to fill in at right-back and defensive midfield far more than he’d have liked.
They do say that third time is the charm, however. And the former Kaiserslautern man will be hoping that old cliché rings true as he embarks upon season number three as a Leeds United player.
Will Robin Koch leave Leeds for the Bundesliga?
“I’m feeling very comfortable here at the moment,” says Koch, who scored from an excellent Brenden Aaronson delivery in Sunday’s 6-2 thumping of Cagliari in pre-season.
“It’s a lot of fun for me to play for Leeds and to be able to compete at this level.”
When pressed on a potential return to the Bundesliga, however, Koch was reluctant to ‘rule out anything’.
“I had a great time in Germany,” the 26-year-old adds. “I can’t and don’t want to rule out coming back at some point.”
‘Great’ Marc Roca
If Leeds’ six-goal blitzing of Cagliari is anything to go by, the departures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha – talented as those two were – will be far from fatal to Leeds’ hopes of extending their stay in the Premier League.
Aaronson already looks the part – the so-called American Kai Havertz producing a hat-trick of delicious assists – while the rampaging Rasmus Kristensen appears to have the makings of a cult hero already. Ditto Marc Roca; All style and left-footed guile.
There was even a hat-trick for the much-maligned Rodrigo Moreno against Cagliari.
“Of course, the two were very important for us. Kalvin and Rapha are great footballers, but also great guys,” Koch adds. “At this point, I can certainly speak for the team that they will be missed a lot. Nevertheless, I think that with the new players have gained in quality both on and off the pitch.”
“My impression of (Roca) is very good. A great player, with a very good attitude. He wants to win every game. That suits us well as a team.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
