Nicolas Jackson: ‘I don’t know where I’d be now without football’

From sandy pitches in Senegel to Säbener Straße in Munich, via moving to Spain alone as an 18 year-old, Nicolas Jackson put it all on the line very early on. Speaking to members’ magazine ‘51’, Bayern’s new forward talks about missing home, his belief and the strength to never give up.

Interview with Nicolas Jackson

Nicolas, this interview is intended to help Bayern fans and members get to know you better. You took your first steps in football barefoot on the sand pitches of Ziguinchor in Senegal. You took your boots off again for our photo shoot. What does it mean to you to feel the sand beneath your feet?
“It feels familiar straight away, almost like returning to my childhood. The sand shaped me. For us, it was normal to play barefoot. Nobody had football boots, we just got on with it. It might seem unusual here, but for us it was everyday life. Even today, you can still see children playing barefoot there. Of course, it was a big adjustment later on to play on grass, but I'm grateful for that experience because it made me strong and shaped me into the player I am today.”

You were influenced at an early age. Your parents put a ball in your bed when you were just a baby. What does football mean to you personally?
“Football is my life. I don’t know where I’d be now without football. As a child, I wanted to be like Ronaldo, like Kaká, like the big stars I looked up to. Football was the only thing I thought about. Now I'm living the dreams I had as a child and hope that I can achieve even more.”

Would you describe yourself as someone who likes to take risks?
“Yes, definitely. Even if I could decide everything all over again, I’d do it exactly the same way. I knew I had the talent, so I had to use it – with all the good and bad sides that football brings with it. Fortunately, I made it. But to be honest, I'm just one of a few thousand who actually make it. It's extremely difficult. That's why I say it's God's work, but it's also a question of hard work.”

So faith plays an important role for you?
“Yes, I think everything happens as God wants it to. But that doesn't mean you can just sit back and relax. You have to do your part, otherwise it won't work. For me, that means God opens doors, but only if you're willing to work hard for it.”

You were only 18 when you moved to Villarreal in Spain. What was that like for you at the time?
“It was difficult, of course, but I knew I had to do it, so that one day I could see my family again under better circumstances. My entire focus was on staying in Spain, establishing myself at Villarreal and making it into the first team. I knew that if I succeeded, it would be easier to bring my family over – no matter where my path took me. I missed my mother and father very much, but it was the only way to achieve my goals and make life easier for my whole family.”

Your rise since then has been rapid: debut and breakthrough at Villarreal, Premier League with Chelsea and now at Bayern. How do you look back on your career so far?
“I’m very grateful for everything that has happened so far, but I’m someone who prefers to look ahead. For me, what counts is the here and now, giving my all at Bayern, continuing to develop and being successful with the team. I'll definitely look back once my career is over – perhaps with my children. But at the moment, I just want to continue on this path step by step and try to always see the positive.”

Let's talk about the present and your first few weeks in Munich. What were they like, including Oktoberfest?
“I'm really happy to be here and to be playing alongside such big names. Oktoberfest was something very special. I really like traditions. I thought it was great that my new teammates took me along straight away. It gave me the chance to get to know an important part of Bavarian culture. Everything has been fantastic so far. I already feel very much at home here.”

You’re only 24 but Germany is already the fifth country you have lived in, after Gambia, Senegal, Spain and England.
“Every move brings a new experience. In Spain, it took me a while to learn the language, get to know people and find my feet. Here, things are a bit quicker because many people speak English. But I definitely want to learn German and improve bit by bit.”

You will also learn that expectations are high at Bayern. How do you deal with pressure?
“When you play for a big club, there's always pressure. I experienced that at Chelsea too. It's very similar here. The fans want goals, they want titles. For me, the most important thing is to stay focused and concentrate fully on the team. I want to make our fans happy and repay the trust my teammates and the coach have placed in me. If we work well together, everything will be easier.”

Have you set yourself any personal goals for this season?
“Yes, I have, but I'd rather keep them to myself until I've achieved them [smiles].’”

You're now playing alongside Harry Kane. How does that feel?
“It's incredible. I looked up to Harry even as a child. As a striker, I always paid attention to players like him. Just like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Luis] Suárez, [Sergio] Agüero, [Mario] Balotelli and [Didier] Drogba – all those big names. Now playing in the same team as him makes me very proud. I learn from him every day and try to pick up a few things from him.”

Your big idol was Cristiano Ronaldo, but your friends used to call you Neymar. How would you describe your own style?
“[laughs] I can do a lot of things, but I can improve in everything. My friends used to call me Neymar because I was always dribbling and playing with the ball – just like a kid having fun. But the older I got, the more Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Ronaldo Nazário became my big idols. I watched a lot of videos of them.”

Cristiano only became a centre forward during his career. Have you always been a classic number nine?
“As a youngster, I was more of a deep-lying striker. Because I scored a lot of goals, my coach eventually put me up front, and that's how it stayed. At Villarreal, we initially played with two strikers, but later I was the only striker. Unai Emery advised me not to drop too deep into midfield, but to stay up front. ‘The others will feed you the ball.’ That advice has helped me a lot in my career.”

Does playing barefoot in the past still influence your style today?
“When I came to Spain, I still played very freely, just like I used to in Senegal. But at a professional level, the focus is clearly on winning, and that requires structure and clear focus. At Villarreal, I gradually learned to understand the game better and develop my tactical skills. At the same time, that carefree style from the past has allowed me to retain a certain creativity.”

If you had the little Nico from back then in front of you today, what would you say to him?
“I would tell him to keep going, believe in yourself and trust in God. Listen to your parents – not just in football, but also in life. Work hard and fight for your dreams. And above all, never give up.”

The full interview is available to read in the November edition of ‘51’