“I need a club that believes in me” | OneFootball

Interview with new signing Samuel Mbangula

He’s here! Samuel Mbangula has joined SV Werder Bremen from Juventus. However, his new chapter doesn’t begin at the Weser like for many other new Werder players but at the training camp in Zillertal. In this WERDER.DE interview, the 21-year-old winger talks about the reasons behind his move, familiar faces in the team and the power he draws from an anime series.

WERDER.DE: Hi Samuel, we’re really happy that you’ve come straight to the training camp in Zillertal. Have you been to Austria before?

Samuel Mbangula: To be honest, I haven’t been to Austria before. My expectation for the time here is to get to know my teammates better.

Mbangula was with Juventus in the US until the start of July (Photo: W.DE).

WERDER.DE:How have the last few hours and days been for you?​​​​​​​

Samuel Mbangula: The last few days have been quite stressful for me. I woke up at 6:30 CEST, which is very early for me. Yesterday, I was preparing everything for my trip.

WERDER.DE: Your summer has been pretty hectic as well since you were with Juventus at the Club World Cup. What level are you starting your pre-season preparation at now?

Samuel Mbangula: I started my pre-season very well, and then I took some time off, just like every player does and needs. But the break was long enough for me to be ready now and show what I can do here.

WERDER.DE: Why is Werder Bremen the right club for you?

Samuel Mbangula: I need a club that believes in me. Additionally, Werder Bremen is a club with a great history in Germany.

WERDER.DE: A famous Belgian player, Kevin De Bruyne, played for Werder. What else do you know about the club?

Samuel Mbangula: I know that many great players have played here. You mentioned De Bruyne, but also Mesut Özil. Both are legends of football for me.

WERDER.DE: And what do you think about the Bundesliga?

Samuel Mbangula: It’s a great league, and the standard is very high. Just look at what the German teams have achieved in international competitions. I want to be an important player in this league, help achieve our goals and secure the best possible position.

WERDER.DE: What kind of player are you?

Samuel Mbangula: I think I’m very calm on the ball and I don’t get stressed easily. I also have a lot of pace and good technique.

WERDER.DE: You’ve played with Dikeni Salifou at Juve Next Gen and against Keke Topp in a U19 international. What else do you know about Werder?

Samuel Mbangula: I don’t know Keke well. I only saw that we played against each other two years ago. Dikeni is a good friend, and I spent a lot of time with him and other players at Juventus. I’ve heard there are two more Belgians in the team. But I don’t know the rest of the team yet – I hope that changes quickly.

WERDER.DE: We’ve heard that you really enjoy anime like Captain Tsubasa.

Samuel Mbangula: I know it’s not real life, but sometimes I can still draw motivation from it. What I like about Captain Tsubasa is that it’s the story of a boy who starts with nothing except a dream and talent.

WERDER.DE: Finally, what’s your first impression of the fans?

Samuel Mbangula: The fans are great. They already welcomed me on social media, and everyone is really nice to me. I really appreciate that.

WERDER.DE: Thank you for the chat, Sam!