"I could be sitting in an office right now"

Four-four-two with Justin Eilers

Justin Eilers has had an extraordinary career so far, and he still has a lot more ahead of him (Photo: WERDER.DE)
interview
Friday, 06.01.2017 / 14:55

Confidence is important in football. It’s probably the most important thing to have during hard times of ups and downs. The only way to get back to the top is to believe in your own abilities during such tough times. “I really doubted myself,” admitted Justin Eilers. “It was the most difficult time of my career. I didn’t feel right. It was my first time away from home, I got injured and then I couldn’t make the breakthrough,” said the 28-year old. But Eilers never gave up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer. 

WERDER.DE met up with Eilers at the training camp in Alhaurin el Grande and spoke to him about how his career can get going now after a long time out injured. We asked him four sports-related questions, four personal questions and two unusual questions about his career so far. 

Four sports-related questions

Justin Eilers has finally made his way into the team (Photo: nordphoto).

 # Goals…

 

…are not my special skill (laughs), but once I managed to win the Goal of the Month award. It really was an exceptional goal and I will always remember it. I would always be happy if I managed to get the ball over the line. 

 

# My post-training routine…

 

….is relaxing straight after I’ve had a shower. First of all, I lay on my bed and check what’s been going on. I’ve been doing that for years.

 

# My favourite swapped shirt…

 

….there’s a lot of candidates for this one, like the shirts that used to belong to Kevin Scheidhauer or Dan-Patrick Poggenberg who I met during my time at VfL Wolfsburg. Both of them are hanging up in my wardrobe. 

 

# The friendly against Braunschweig…

 

…if I remember this correctly, it will be the first time I’ll play against my home club. It’s going to be really special when I run out in front of the crowd there. I know a few of the players who are still there. 

Four personal questions:

Braunschweig, Goslar, Wolfsburg, Dresden, and now Werder! (Photo: nordphoto).

# The dream of becoming a professional footballer…

 

…I never gave up on my dream, however at times other things were more important. I wanted to start enjoying my sport again. I had no idea what my future in football was going to look like. I spoke to my family and friends about it a lot. Who would have thought that I would be sitting here today! I’m proud of myself. I played for Braunschweig in the third division when I was 19 years old and I was naïve to think that I would reach the top level so quickly. It takes time to get there.

# A Plan B…

 

…I’ve always had a Plan B, even though I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer ever since I was a young boy. When I was in Goslar, my parents told me that I would have to do an apprenticeship if things didn’t start to work out in a year and a half or so. Things could have turned out completely differently. I could be sitting in an office right now!


# Marc Pfitzner…

 

…we’ve been friends for years. We’ve known each other for a long time and played together in Braunschweig. We’ve spent a lot more time together since he’s been in Bremen. We do a lot of things together like going out to eat or playing PlayStation. 


# Aron, Max and Justin…

 

…they’re definitely all on the same wavelength. We’re all really close and get along really well. I share a room with Aron. He always says what he thinks and I like that. We do a lot of things together here, like playing darts!

Two unusual questions:

Eilers loves to wear caps (Photo: WERDER.DE).

# When I’m buying a cap, I make sure that…

 

I like them (laughs). I don’t have any particular favourite. I don’t really pay attention to the brand, but I like having them because it’s so easy to put a hat on when you don’t fancy doing anything with your hair!

 

# For me, the best thing about Werder is…

 

…that I can get a taste of what it’s like to play for a Bundesliga team, however things aren’t massively different at the club. Everything was run really professionally even when I was playing for Dynamo Dresden. Of course you get a lot more media attention here, but otherwise it’s not too different. I’ve been thinking about what I need to do to make the next step in the Bundesliga. I want to play regularly for Werder in the Bundesliga.

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