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“We haven’t got any games to spare”
AN INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN NJINMAH AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S CLASH WITH LEIPZIG
01/04/26
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A fifth goal of the season should give Justin Njinmah a bit of momentum going into this weekend’s clash with RB Leipzig – a game in which, on paper, the attacker could have a lot of influence on. We sat down with the 25-year-old to talk about reuniting with his former head coach Ole Werner, a left-footed wonder-goal and the importance of the game against Leipzig.
WERDER.DE: Hi Justin. Goals are the most important thing for a striker – what does scoring in the Bundesliga mean to you?
Justin Njinmah: It means a lot. It’s what I personally enjoy the most. It’s just an indescribable feeling of happiness.
WERDER.DE: Your goal in Wolfsburg was particularly emotional. Do you look back on it to draw some positivity?
Justin Njinmah: Yes, of course. It felt amazing on the day and the next day as well. It’s not something I think about all the time, though.
WERDER.DE: You recently spoke about going through a difficult phase, but with five goals this Bundesliga campaign, you’re only one away from equalling your best tally. Were you maybe too self-critical?
Justin Njinmah: Maybe people, myself included, didn’t have such high expectations in my first season. I’ve scored five goals now and my goal is to add even more. It would be great for me and even better if it helps the team. There has been a lot of discussion, though, because everyone knows that number could be higher.
WERDER.DE: You’ve also mentioned scoring with your left foot, like you did against Wolfsburg. You managed to score an even more impressive goal with your left foot a couple of years ago against our next opponents, Leipzig…
Justin Njinmah: …yes, much more impressive (smiles).
WERDER.DE: How do you look back on that goal?
Justin Njinmah: I have positive memories of the entire game, because we put in a good performance. It was the last game before the winter break and we came back thanks to that goal.
WERDER.DE: Is finishing with your weaker foot something you want to do more often?
Justin Njinmah: Yes, definitely. Sometimes I just need to shoot. I’ve often been in situations where I’m one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Every striker knows it: if you miss one or two chances, you start overthinking. Maybe sometimes it’s not about precision, but about just shooting.
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WERDER.DE: You made your Bundesliga breakthrough under Ole Werner, who is now coming to the Weserstadion with Leipzig. What role did he play in your development?
Justin Njinmah: Ole and I have known each other since I was 17 or 18. I played for him in the U23s and our paths then crossed again here, where I managed to establish myself in the Bundesliga under him. He put his trust in me. There were reports saying I had problems with him, which is absolute nonsense. I really appreciate him as a coach.
WERDER.DE: Ole knows your team very well, but you also know his playing style and ways of communication. Will any of that help ahead of Saturday's game?
Justin Njinmah: No. It would be nonsense to say that that would give us an advantage. Ole is the same coach, but with a whole different group of players and a different style of play. In terms of preparation, we’re approaching this like we would any other game. For him, it may be special to come back here.
WERDER.DE: Since Leipzig typically dominate possession, your pace could prove an even bigger weapon than it was in Wolfsburg. Do you enjoy games where you have space to run into?
Justin Njinmah: On paper, yes. It’s easy to say that I’ll have a lot of chances to use my pace against Leipzig, but it all depends on how the game actually unfolds. Generally speaking, I do better against teams that like to keep the ball more.
WERDER.DE: Leipzig head to the Weserstadion on Saturday, before you then play two games in a row against relegation rivals. How much could a win ease the pressure ahead of the coming weeks?
Justin Njinmah: There’s definitely a chance. We haven’t got any games to spare, though – we need to pick up points in every single one. If we beat Leipzig, we want to keep going. We believe we can do it.
WERDER.DE: We believe it too. Good luck on Saturday!
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