3/1 To Win
Timi Max Elsnik’s homecoming for the final game of the Derby County Under-23s’ season served up, arguably, the most magnificent strike of his young career.
Naturally, there is only one place to start this interview when we spoke to the midfielder last week.
“The ball kind of just bounced to me,” Elsnik said. “I think [Alex] Babos passed it to me and I was feeling confident so I just took a shot. It was a great strike, it went in and I was buzzing.”
It was a perfect strike from outside the box that Daniel Iversen had no chance of saving as it clipped the far post before rebounding in.
Darren Wassall, the club’s academy director, described the wonder-strike, that set the tone for most of the game as the Rams dominated the Foxes, as the Under-23s' goal of the season.
“A goal like that sometimes lifts the team and I think we controlled the game,” Elsnik added. “We had good possession, we looked dangerous on the attack and had loads of chances. We just couldn’t get that second goal and then the last 10 minutes we went under, but we can learn from it and keep positive.”
This season has seen Elsnik, the Slovenia Under-19s international, enjoy a season long loan with Sky Bet League 2 side Swindon Town.
The 20-year-old has made 24 appearances in total for the Robins – a number that would undoubtedly have been higher but for injury.
A particular highlight included him hitting two goals in a last-gasp fightback to beat Crewe Alexandra 4-3 and Elsnik has thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of senior football.
“I’m really enjoying it, it’s helped me a lot just to understand first-team football and what you have to do with the fans, managers, media – it’s just a different kind of pressure. It prepares you as a player for, in my case, Derby’s first team which is where I want to end up, that’s my goal.”
He added: “The biggest thing I’ve learned is the mentality it takes to play in a first-team. You see how much it means to the players because it is their job and their families depend on them. You have to do everything you can to get a win, like put your body on the line and sacrifice for the team.”
He may only be 20-years-old, Elsnik is one of the senior members of the Derby Under-23s squad.
The midfielder was one of the key figures last term as the squad beat the drop and for the second consecutive season the team has fought down to the wire to secure their place in Premier League 2 Division 1 and Elsnik believes staying in the top-tier is a wonderful opportunity for the younger players to relish in.
“It’s great [to stay in the division], especially for the young players it’s just a different level of football for their development and preparing them for the big stage,” he said.
“Everyone is going to get something from it as a club and the players are going to be better because they play week-in-week-out with better players.
“It’s been our second season in this division and I think the boys have done really well, so it’s just a very good feeling to still be up there.
“We have to give credit to the young lads who have played all season, I think we have one of the youngest teams in the division so it’s a great achievement.”
