Mees: &quot;I always knew I could assert myself here&quot;

Mees: "I always knew I could assert myself here"

Matchday Magazine Interview:

Thu, 29. November 2018

Mees: "I always knew I could assert myself here"

The day after Joshua Mees scored the opening goal in the 2-2 draw in Hamburg, the 22-year-old sat down with us to talk through his first steps in football, arriving at Union Berlin and how he has adapted to the capital. Here are some snippets. The full interview is available in the matchday magazine ahead of the game with Darmstadt on Saturday December 1.

Joshua, first tell us how you actually got started in football. You were born in Saarland, but have been travelling in other places for some time . How did it all begin?

JM: I have an older brother who had started playing. I started kicking the ball about when I was three years old. At the start, I didn’t really enjoy it that much. After a year, I didn’t want to play anymore and quit. I felt like playing again after about half a year and so at about four-and-a-half, I started playing for a team.

And at some point, you enjoyed it and decided to stick with it?

JM: Yes, basically. At some point, my dad realised that I might actually have a bit of talent after all and became my coach at youth level. When I was 13, I moved to Saarbrücken — the biggest club in the Saarland region — and then later on to Hoffenheim.

Did you move to a boarding school when you moved to Saarbrücken or could you still live at home?

JM: No, I still lived at home. I was lucky that 2-3 other people from my village played with me in Saarbrücken. So our parents were able to divide the driving up a little bit. That worked out well.

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Some players need a couple of week, or even sometimes a few months to get used to a new club, a new city, or an unfamiliar environment, like with new players. How has it been for you? What was it like when you came here and was there someone who took you under their wing?

JM: I already knew Grischa Prömel from Hoffenheim and he helped me in the beginning. Otherwise, the team is also top. Cool people who made it relatively easy for me to come in. Everything went smoothly.

Your goal celebration in Hamburg was quite reserved. Was that possibly due to your injury? How do you generally feel about goal celebrations?

JM: Yes, that was actually because I was flat out. It was a long sprint. I got a hug from my team-mates and then I had to take a moment to breathe again. But really, I’m not the biggest cheerleader now, but rather enjoy it quietly. I think that’s what you saw with the goal celebrations.

Before you came here or in the first weeks after your arrival, did you get a little involved in the history of Union or with the club itself? Or do you see it as an employer like Sandhausen, Hoffenhiem or Regenbsurg?

JM: No, I wouldn't say that. Of course, I have got to know the history of the club and the 2.Bundesliga history in recent seasons. I have been following Union for about 4-5 years anyway. I always found it to be a great club and that has been confirmed in my first few months here.

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When did you realise that professional football could actually become a career option?

JM: It was a dream for me, even as a small child. When I moved to Hoffenheim at 14, the goal was clear: to become a professional. I knew that it wouldn't be easy. A maximum of 2 or 3 of each year group will move into the first-team. When we became German champions at U19 level, then runner-up the following year when I was even top scorer, I knew I could make it if I kept working hard.

Should we talk briefly about Hoffenheim? Hoffenheim are not the most popular club in German football among many supporters of traditional clubs. How was the club for you? How did you experience it as a young, aspiring professional footballer?

JM: It's outstanding there, especially in the youth. Simply, they've got all the conditions you need to develop perfectly. The same goes for education. There are 4-5 tutors every day who help you if you have problems and before training, can help you learn more or finish off your homework. Also, there is the infrastructure there. Previously, the first-team players were there and now it is the U19 and U17 players. It's already optimal conditions. For the professionals, the conditions are another level. I also got to know Hoffenheim as a family club and I always felt at home there, I have to say.

The next question takes a bit to actually to get to the point: "You saw the competition here at Union Berlin before the summer and were able to assess things. You knew that you could have spent time in the stands or on the bench. You didn't come as a key player, but to add depth to the squad. You needed some time with Jahn in your first 2.Bundesliga season to impose yourself and become an integral part of the first eleven." Is that true?

JM: I wouldn't quite agree on everything there.

To the crux of his question then: How would you evaluate what was more courageous? The courage that you thought you could assert yourself here or the courage of Union to commit to you?

JM: Difficult to say. I don't know. I definitely thought I could assert myself from the very beginning here and I believe the club will do the same for me. I don't know what was braver.