Tuesday 8 November 2016 12:34, UK
Oliver Burke admits he is still adjusting to life in Germany since his surprise summer move to the Bundesliga, but is already targeting the title with his new club.
Burke, 19, raised eyebrows across British football in August when he signed for newly promoted RB Leipzig in a £13m deal from Nottingham Forest having played just 35 senior games.
Officially RasenBallsport Leipzig - the club was formed in 2009 when Red Bull purchased the playing rights to local fifth-tier side SSV Markranstädt, rebranding the club in the company's image and cannily circumventing German football's strict rules on corporate influence.
Four promotions later, the city of Leipzig has welcomed top-flight football for the first time since 1994 and the team has hit the Bundesliga like a whirlwind.
On the pitch, Leipzig is a hotbed young European talent - the upstart of the Bundesliga determined to upset the established order - and after winning promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1994, they are unbeaten in 10 games and sit second behind Bayern Munich on goal difference, with Burke contributing a goal and two assists already.
"It's an amazing feeling to be second in the Bundesliga at the moment and still doing so well and comfortably winning matches as well as a team. We are doing very well and it is great," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Can we win the Bundesliga? Me personally, I believe we can, of course. But we can't think about that too much, we have to concentrate and go into each game and give 100 per cent and still keep working hard on the training field. But everybody strives for the top and everybody wants to win trophies, medals and stuff so why not?
"I want to win the Bundesliga and I want to win it with RB Leipzig. Why not? We have the players, the quality; we have a great team so there is no reason why we can't. For sure, it is a good shout to be in the Champions League but we take every game as it comes and we keep working hard and certainly we will get there with our hard work and dedication."
Off the pitch, Burke is coming to terms with his move away from England.
"The biggest difference is probably driving on the other side of the road. And trams are everywhere in this city! That was hard to adjust to - you're checking the corner and there is a tram coming and you think, 'Am I meant to be here in the car?' You don't know where to go. It was a challenge at first but now I've adapted.
"The German is getting there - it is going to take a bit of time. It's a first proper language for me to learn but I'm eager to learn it."
One-to-one German tuition is part of the daily routine for Burke at the world-class training complex of "Der Roten Bullen", which is only 30 minutes' walk - or 10 minutes on a tram - from Leipzig city centre. Across the river from the training ground is the Red Bull Arena, formerly the Zentralstadion, which hosted five games at the 2006 World Cup. For Burke, it's a world away from the City Ground.
"It's very much different - sometimes you don't want to get away from this place, it has everything you need. We have a sauna steam room, the physiotherapy is fantastic, we have DVD rooms where we can watch our games and see where we need to improve on and there is always something you can improve on in yourself.
"We never leave the training ground until very late because we have our food here, everything is all cooked by a great chef for us; I guess it is everything you need to become a better player.
"It's been amazing so far and the team is so close and I've bonded very well with the players. Many of the players speak English so it is quite easy to adapt and I get with everyone. They are a great bunch of boys and we are all young and we all strive for the same thing and we all want the same goal - to do the very best and to go into every game to win."
"I guess it is a brave move for me but I don't regret any of my decisions whatsoever. I am very happy and every day I keep learning, keep getting better and better and see where it gets me but it is a great club."
"I wouldn't say I'm homesick at all really, my family have come over whenever they can. They pretty much come to every game, their support is unreal. But everyone is like family at this club, everybody looks after each other. Whenever there is a problem, everyone is there for you and it is one big family this club and it is really nice."
