By 
It has been an eventful start of the season for Jamie Gittens, with plenty of “unexpected” things happening, he says. Building mental strength has been key to his own ability to cope with difficulties, and ignoring hostile comments on social media is part of his personal strategy, the 20-year-old striker says, adding that he believes he has matured considerably since first joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
Strengthening the team spirit is a top item on coach Nuri Sahin’s agenda, and Jamie Gittens believes that losing games actually makes the team stronger by improving the “team chemistry”. He is confident that “one day, it’ll just click”.
In our interview he explains what has prompted him to change his hair style, and shares his thoughts about the forthcoming match against FC Bayern München, Harry Kane, Bayern as an opponent, his memories of his first-ever Klassiker, humour on the team, and his goals for his personal development.
How is your fitness currently?
“Yeah, I’m doing fine. I feel much fitter now after this rest I had – this little break, but the team again, it’s hard for everyone to be injured, and, you know, with no Karim (Adeyemi), no Juju (Duranville), no Gio (Reyna), so many players injured like this, important players… So, when they’re back, it will be exciting, I think.”
What did you do do during the international break?
“Normally, I am with the under-21’s England, so for me, not going, it is a bit weird. I get to see my friends from England, the England team. Being here with the under23 boys, training sometimes. In the gym a lot, working on my body. It has been a hard-working but also restful break, so I feel fresh.”
Jamie Gittens and Manolis Saliakas during the match between Borussia Dortmund and FC St. Pauli at Signal Iduna Park on 18 October 2024. – Getty Images
You’ve gone for a new look with shorter hair. Was that a big decision?
“I just cut my hair because it was too much for my head to handle. It was too heavy for my head, and my hair kept hitting my eyes and going like this and it was doing too much, so I thought I would just cut my hair. It was easier. Get a haircut once every two weeks. I can shower normally now. Wet my hair and everything so I feel good. For me, it was quite simple. I said I was going to do it, and I just did it like this; you know, I asked my girlfriend and my mum, my dad, and they said yeah, just do it.”
What did they say afterwards?
“They said it looked good, and I was happy with that. That’s all that matters, you know.”
What are your thoughts on the season so far?
“It has been eventful for sure. Ups and downs. The unexpected has happened a lot, but in the future, I hope it just becomes more consistent when we start winning more games away also. It is important, and yes, just to keep going no matter what happens, just to keep going, keep fighting for Borussia Dortmund.”
And how about for you personally?
“Yes, it has been an okay start. I think I’ve been playing okay. Not the best at times, but I’m not starting so many games back-to-back like this, so for me, it is also an experience to play every game from the start. I’ve been enjoying it, you know, the journey. Its definitely not easy to do this every week, every three days, but I am getting used to it now, so I just need to keep performing.”
Is there an obvious reason why the away form has been so different to the home form?
“Honestly, no, but I think the team is becoming much, much stronger where we’re losing games and everyone is sticking together. So, we’re building more of a team chemistry in these tough times, and I think one day it’ll just click. I feel like it could be soon; it could be this weekend or whenever, but I think it will start to click soon.”
Is this something Nuri Sahin works on?
“Yes. Team bonding. Doing team events. Team games. I can train in games or in the gym, games to keep our morale high as a team, so what he does is really good.”
Do you think this is an important part of team-building?
“Exactly. If we do not do this, then we will not become a team, and everyone will be complaining and being down, but there are so many good guys in our team, so with good guys, we can achieve a lot of things. Our team has so many good guys. Top guys, funny guys. So everyone is together. He has a team, and we are all strung together. I like it.”
Who are the funny guys at Dortmund?
“There are a lot of funny guys. For me, Felix Nmecha. Ramy Bensebaini. Also funny. Guirassy, really funny. Dony Malen. There are so many funny guys, you know? Even Schlotterbeck at times, making jokes in German.”
What about you? Are you one of the louder guys?
“I am not a loud speaker, but I think around my close friends in the team, I can be a bit loud. So, if you ask Felix, he would say that I am loud, but I think I am normal.”
How have you grown since you arrived in Dortmund?
“I think I am much more mature on and off the pitch, more strict about certain things, and more game understanding of knowing what to do off the ball as well, defensively and through bad times. I’m not so down because back then I’d go on my phone after a bad game and see people saying things about me, talking bad about me, but now I never look at it. So the small things I’m getting used to, and I’m becoming more of a man in this way.”
The Klassiker against Bayern – is this a special game or business as usual?
“No, of course. Bayern Munich – obviously a massive opponent. The rivalry that we have had between Dortmund and Bayern over the past years has been really intense, so it is not a normal game. I cannot say it is a normal game because it is not, but in Dortmund, we know that we have to win this game for people to feel good about themselves, and winning this game would be such a big relief to everyone.”
Do you remember: Your first Bundesliga game was against Bayern!
“Was it? Yes, it was! That was 2022. I feel old! That was my first game off the bench. Minute 60, I came on. I came in the game and was nervous to see all the big names. Playing with the big names also. (Erling) Haaland and Marco (Reus). Playing against Robert Lewandowski and Jamal (Musiala), these players. It was a good day. We lost the game, but I had a good feeling in myself that I was getting to that step.”
Are you one of those big names now too?
“I wouldn’t say that I am a big name yet! I am getting there slowly, but the level that you guys have is really phenomenal.”
What are your thoughts on Harry Kane?
“He is probably one of the best strikers in the world. I haven’t really talked to him. He is a great striker. He did it in the Premier League at Tottenham for years. Doing it at Bayern now; he is a top player. We have to be careful with him in this game. He is a danger to our team.”
What makes Bayern so good?
“Bayern – they are a very aggressive team on the front foot. On the ball, they are creative. Many tricky players. Like (Michael) Olise. He was in my team at Reading. I met him when I was 14 so playing against him will be nice. I know him a little bit. Then the other quality they have in Jamal (Musiala), (Leroy) Sane, and (Kingsley) Coman – they are really dangerous, so we have to be careful, and we have to put in a good game against Bayern.”
How good is Michael Olise?
“He has been in my team since I was 13 at Reading. He was there for two years when I was there. We were on the same team. I knew his quality from years ago. We talk here and there. I ask him for advice sometimes, and he gives it to me about certain things. He is a good guy.”
Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz – is that your level or the level you want to achieve?
“That is what I want to achieve. To say it now, I could believe it but in terms of stats, I am not there yet, but I want to be at that level one day, which I will be if I continue working hard. These guys, their level is crazy so I really have to push myself to get to these levels.”
You left your family to play football at a young age – how do you reflect on that?
“Yes, definitely wasn’t easy. Sometimes, I sit down at my house and think it could have been different. I am thankful that I am here right now to play football and do what I love, and to do it for Borussia Dortmund is even better.”
Do you see your family often?
“Not a lot. They will come over to Germany sometimes to watch some games, but I am not in London a lot because the schedule is busy – the game schedule—but they come down here and there to see some games of mine, which is nice.”
