“Want to show what we’re capable of”

An interview with Jakub Kaminski ahead of the home match against Hoffenheim.

VfL-Wolfsburg-Spieler Jakub Kaminski läuft zum Ball und schaut nach oben.

For a 20-year-old to start 23 competitive games for VfL Wolfsburg so far this season, in his first year in a new country, is pretty good going. Jakub Kaminski, who joined the Wolves from Polish top-flight club Lech Poznan last summer, has made a total of 30 appearances for the Green-and-Whites in the Bundesliga and DFB Cup. Ahead of this Saturday’s home meeting against TSG Hoffenheim (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the Poland international reflects on his first season with VfL and assesses the next opponents.

Jakub Kaminski, your first year in Wolfsburg is almost over. With three matchdays left, how do you rate your first season in the Bundesliga?

Jakub Kaminski: “I think the first season has been good up to now. I’ve played 30 games in total, which is really good for a young player in his first season at a new club. I certainly could’ve scored more goals and provided more assists, but I prefer to look to the future than look back. I hope to achieve better numbers next season.”

VfL-Wolfsburg-Spieler Jakub Kaminski steht mit Mitspielern vor der Fankurve, streckt seine Faust in die Höhe und jubelt.

What’s the difference between the Bundesliga and the top league in Poland, Ekstraklasa?

Jakub: “Obviously the intensity, which is very high in Germany. The games are much more even in the Bundesliga. You have to be ready for everything – whether that’s your own counter-attack or defending. That’s certainly one difference. As well as that, a lot of the individual players in the Bundesliga are just better.”

How do you assess Hoffenheim?

Jakub: “Hoffenheim may be at the lower end of the table but they have a good team. We saw already in the reverse fixture that it’s not easy to play against them. It’s good for us that we’re playing at home because we’ll have the support of our fans. In general it’s a difficult situation for us because after the game at Dortmund, we really want to show what we’re capable of. We have to be prepared for this match and we are.”