Jamie Gittens on starting over at Borussia Dortmund, Nuri Şahin, Jadon Sancho and more
Jamie Gittens is back with a new name and new inspiration. The English prospect is finally raring to go after years of injury issues and has the full support of new head coach Nuri Şahin, meaning this may well be the season we finally see Borussia Dortmund's next big thing make a name for himself in the German top tier. bundesliga.com spoke to the winger ahead of what could be his breakout campaign...
bundesliga.com: You had a lot of different training camps this summer, is that something you always do in breaks? Or is it something you did specifically this summer?
Jamie Gittens: “Well, it’s my first pre-season where I’ve not had injuries, so it’s new to me, finding a rhythm of how to do things. But I feel good now. I feel energised and stronger than before.”
Watch: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens - Dortmund's next English super talent
bundesliga.com: It must be super important for you to have a pre-season without injuries.
Gittens: “Yeah, of course, because before with my shoulders and stuff… But they’re strong now. I’m just ready to go for the new season. I’m very excited.”
bundesliga.com: That’s what everyone tells us, like Nuri Şahin and Lars Ricken, that they’re excited to see Jamie taking the next steps. Is that also what your plan is this campaign?
Gittens: “Obviously, I’ve had to learn a lot in the past year or two, with how football works. Different styles of playing football, different systems. But I’m becoming more and more used to it now, so I feel like I’m getting there.”
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bundesliga.com: We know it was a tough one, the Champions League final, for you guys. Is it also possible to see positive things in that, having reached the final, besides the disappointment?
Gittens: “Of course, because when we first got drafted into the ‘group of death’, they said that we would get knocked out – and we got to the final. So, we proved everyone wrong. We beat PSV [Eindhoven], beat PSG – very tough teams, Newcastle, AC Milan. And we can be proud of that, to get to the final. Of course, we didn’t win, but we have high hopes for the next season as well.”
bundesliga.com For you as a player, Jadon Sancho was here these last six months. You’re very close. He had some great performances. To see him more in this half a year on the pitch and on the training ground, are there things you learned from him on the pitch?
Gittens: “A lot of things. The way he combines with players, lots of one-twos. Combination play. Off-the-ball movements. When to dribble, when to pass. His vision for a pass. Lots of things that I’ve learnt in six months from him, because he’s a top player."
Watch: The best of Jadon Sancho
bundesliga.com: What do you think about the new coach? How do you see Nuri now as a head coach? Is he different?
Gittens: “He’s the same guy, obviously more serious now because he’s the main coach. But from January he was always positive towards me and the team, trying to win games for us by coaching, giving us tactics. And now he’s the main coach. I’m happy to see him as my head coach.”
bundesliga.com: Is he more serious already?
Gittens: “Yeah, obviously on the pitch. Off the pitch, he’s calm and just chilled. But on the pitch, it’s like a switch happens. He’s just focused. I call him a perfectionist. For him, it’s got to be perfect. If it’s not perfect, we’ve got to do it again and again until it’s perfect. And that’s good for us to keep high standards.”
bundesliga.com: You are someone who has a lot of precision in your play, but you’re also a free spirit on the pitch. Can both work?
Gittens: “Yeah, they can both work. It’s now just about trying to put them together, to be free but also when to play easy and when to pass the simple pass. But over time, these things will come to my head, and I’ll get used to it. He talked to me already about my next steps and what I’ve got to improve on. Just to be a constant goal threat to the opposition. If that’s scoring or assisting goals, becoming more reliable on the ball in certain areas. If it’s in midfield, to protect the ball, stronger. And just to enjoy my football and have a smile on my face.”
Why is Bynoe-Gittens now just Gittens?
bundesliga.com: Are you at your best when you’re playing with a smile on your face?
Gittens: “I think so. Sometimes if I’m angry, I also play well. But as a perspective from the outside, if I’m happy, they think that I’m playing better. But at times, it’s mixed. If I’m angry, I play better. If I’m happy, I play better. If you’re angry and motivated, you can do it. Or if you’re happy. It just depends where you are mentally. On the day, if I’m angry, I might play better. It just happens.”
Watch: The best of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
bundesliga.com: What are the team's goals for this season?
Gittens: “As a team, to start this season firing, so we have a head start. To make it easier for us in the long run. We want to be a dominant team on the ball, more possession-based so we can do less running. That’s the main two goals for the team.”
bundesliga.com: Dortmund’s starts haven’t been as good in recent seasons - is that something where the coach’s perfectionism can help?
Gittens: “The season where we didn’t win the league, if we’d won some games earlier in the season, we could’ve done it. It’s just small details that could make it happen. The coach is going to be saying this to us every day until the first game of the season, it’s about details and the small things count, which is true.”
bundesliga.com: Do you know the new players who’ve signed for Dortmund this summer?
Gittens: “Personally, no. I’ve just seen them play. Obviously Serhou Guirassy at Stuttgart – a top striker, strong, quick, a finisher. And Waldemar Anton, also a good defender, strong. They will be good for us in the team.”
bundesliga.com With Marco [Reus] and Mats Hummels leaving, there’s going to be new energy in the dressing room…
Gittens: “Yeah, it’s going to be weird not seeing them around, because they’re such good guys and they have such experience for us in Dortmund. So, to not see Marco and Mats, it will be a bit weird, but we have to get used to it and just hope that we keep up the high standards.”
Watch: Serhou Guirassy under the microscope
bundesliga.com: Time to step up for other guys. That’s how professional sport works. Which guys will that be?
Gittens: “I think everyone’s got to step up now. Everyone’s got to take responsibility for things, me included as well. Just to be a good team player to everyone, just to feel good.”
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