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“That motivates every young player to earn their chance”
INTERVIEW WITH SALIM MUSAH
13/08/26 | 4 Min
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Salim Musah took his chance to break into SV Werder’s first-team squad last season, scoring his first Bundesliga goal in just his third appearance. In an interview with WERDER.DE, the 20-year-old discusses the whirlwind final weeks of last season, the current pre-season preparations and the close bond between the club’s young players.
WERDER.DE: It’s day four of the training camp in Harsewinkel. You missed the first day through illness, but you’ve got a few sessions under your belt now as well. How are you feeling?
Salim Musah: Still good. Obviously I can feel it in my body a little now. It’s been an intense few days, but I’m still feeling good and I’m looking forward to the game at the weekend and then the cup game next week.
WERDER.DE: How have the first few days of the training camp gone?
Salim Musah: They’ve been good. We’ve done a lot of tactical work and really come together as a group. We’ve also spent a lot of time together, both on and off the pitch.
WERDER.DE: Let’s look back for a moment. You made your Bundesliga debut in March and scored your first goal in April. Now that you’ve had a bit of time to reflect on it, what were those weeks like for you?
Salim Musah: They were really special. I don’t think it all properly sank in until after the season because everything happened so quickly. But they were great moments, and dreams that came true for me.
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WERDER.DE: You were also involved in pre-season last year before a thigh injury kept you out for a long time. How difficult is it to keep yourself in contention when you’re fighting for a place in the first-team squad?
Salim Musah: At first it’s frustrating because you’ve set yourself a lot of targets and then suddenly you don’t have the chance to show what you can do for a while. But I think it also helped me move forward. So far, I’ve always come back stronger from setbacks. I always try to stay positive, so I’d say it gave me an extra push. It made me want even more to be part of the squad and make my debut.
WERDER.DE: You’re a very calm character away from the pitch. Does that composure help you as a footballer too, particularly when it comes to keeping your cool in front of goal?
Salim Musah: Yes, I think so. I’m sometimes told that I need to come out of my shell a bit more. That has already changed compared to how I used to be, because I was even quieter before. I just need to find the right balance between staying as calm as I am in the right moments and being a bit more outgoing at other times.
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WERDER.DE: Cedric Itten has joined the attack this summer, bringing plenty of experience at the highest level, including at the World Cup. What can you learn from him?
Salim Musah: A player like him can help a lot, especially with my positioning, but also things like holding the ball up, competing for high balls, heading and reading the game. He’s been playing at this level for quite a few years now, so I think there’s still a lot we can learn from him.
WERDER.DE: A few more players from the U19s and U23s have joined the group this summer. What’s it like having more young players around you?
Salim Musah: I like it. Naturally, the younger players spend quite a lot of time together, and you can see how much we help each other. When you see players you’ve come through the academy or U23s with getting first-team opportunities, it motivates everyone else to work for their own chance as well. Having several of us around also makes it easier for some of the lads to settle in, both on and off the pitch.
WERDER.DE: Who would you say you’re closest to in the team?
Salim Musah: There are a lot of lads I spend time with, but especially Karim, Stefan and Patrice.
WERDER.DE: What have you made of the progress the youngsters have made? Paul is a good example, having scored several goals in the friendlies and earned himself a place in the first-team squad.
Salim Musah: I’m absolutely delighted for him. We’ve all always known what Paul can do, so it’s great to see him showing it week after week now. It also motivates all the other young players to earn their chance and then take it the way he has. Paul has really caught the eye.
WERDER.DE: The top talent coordinator acts as a link between you younger players and the first team. Daniel Flottmann, your former U19 coach, has taken over from Björn Schierenbeck. How have the first few days with him been?
Salim Musah: Just like ‘Schiere’, ‘Flotti’ brings a real personal touch as well as a strong tactical understanding. I was really pleased when it was announced that he’d be taking over the role. In the first few days he mainly took things in, watched the different training games and then spoke to us afterwards about different things.
WERDER.DE: The Tach der Fans is coming up on Saturday. Are you looking forward to seeing the supporters and playing the friendly against Auxerre?
Salim Musah: I’m really looking forward to the day. I can’t wait to play at the stadium again and enjoy the whole Tach der Fans experience with the supporters around the ground. I’m also excited because it’s our final test before the competitive games begin.
WERDER.DE: What are your aims for the new season?
Salim Musah: I just want to give my best. I’m confident that I’ll play well and score goals. Obviously I hope I can stay injury-free so I can help the team as much as possible. The rest will take care of itself.
WERDER.DE: Thanks for speaking to us, Salim!
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