Giulia Gwinn: Those who duck away don't achieve anything

After the 4-0 win in the Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash at VfL Wolfsburg, FC Bayern Women now turn their attentions to the DFB Cup semi-final at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Easter Sunday (kick-off 15:45 CEST). In the run-up to the match, Giulia Gwinn explained in the current edition of FC Bayern members' magazine 51 all the things she pays attention to in order to always be able to perform at her best – from controlled sleep and the right diet to exercises with special glasses. 

Giulia, if we start by looking back: how much of the 20-year-old who moved to FC Bayern in summer 2019 is still in you?
(laughs) "Oh, I think quite a lot. The joy of football and my constant motivation are unbroken. I am very grateful for how everything has worked out. I had the confidence of the coaches right from the start and quickly found my place in Munich. My two cruciate ligament ruptures then threw me off track a little, it's been up and down, but I've always fought my way back and am happy to have been part of the development that was initiated – at FC Bayern and in German women's football as a whole – for several years now."

With the national team, you recently spoke of "scaredy-cat football" after the defeat to France.
"I think you sometimes have to touch on sore points. At 24 I'm still young, but I've grown into a role in which I can talk about uncomfortable things. Specifically on the topic of 'scaredy-cat football': that came from the emotion after the game and I wasn't excluding myself from the criticism either. It was about all of us, about our performance in the first half – myself included, clearly."

It was generally received as refreshing.
"I know the quality that's in us, and then it just annoys all of us when we don't produce that on the pitch. I believe in our potential, and if you're honest and open and everyone scrutinises themselves, that encourages performance in a team."

Is that the next step in your career: Bundesliga debut at 16, Germany at 18, move to Bayern at 20, a leader at 24?
"I want to take on responsibility and also embody that. We have players in the national team and also at Bayern with more experience. Alexander Popp, for example, is a seasoned figure, everyone looks up to her. However, I think it helps us as a team when younger players take on responsibility – off the pitch but in matches in particular. That shouldn't be limited to one or two players. I also show that in the national team with my penalties: I lead the way, I don't hide. Those who duck away don't achieve anything."

You're currently wearing a data ring that tracks all your values. How does that work for you? 
"I'm very open to innovations and try to optimise everything around football. We got the ring from the DFB in 2022. I was really curious about it. In addition, I've had chats with a sleep expert and a nutritionist, and I also do a lot of work in the neuroathletic area."

Giulia Gwinn, the 360-degree footballer.
(laughs) "I didn't think of it like that before, but as a competitive athlete, it's definitely important to me to use all the opportunities available to me off the pitch to perform at my best."

Players like Serge Gnabry, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland also try a lot of things to enhance their performance.
"The sleep expert gave me tips, for example, on how to better wind down before sleep and get into the sleep cycles. Then I discovered the topic of neuroathletics for myself and my knee. Among other things, I work out with Strobobrille [strobe glasses] from time to time. These glasses flicker, giving you a distorted image. You can do this during exercises on and off the pitch, such as table tennis. The delayed perception has a huge effect on sharpening your perception."

And what do you take into account in your diet?
"I don't eat dessert before main course like Lewandowski, but I try to eat a balanced diet. Especially in the rehab phase, when it was about building up muscle and protein intake, that was important. These are all things that can give you a few extra percent in your performance – and every percentage point counts."

Mental training is important to you, too.
"I discovered that in the rehab phase but I wish I'd done it sooner. It's like an additional training. When you play for Germany and Bayern, there's always pressure, you want to win games and collect titles. That's the expectation. I've developed good strategies for how to keep my cool in pressure situations and maintain my inner core, such as when taking penalties."

It appears to be working – your penalty record is 18 out of 18.
"I'd like to extend that.“ (grins)

Alongside sport, you're very in demand in the media as one of the most famous faces in women's football. Does your day have more than 24 hours?
"It's always about the right balance. I think it's great that women's football is becoming more visible and more significant, but that doesn't make it easier on the other hand. I always want to be seen as a footballer, that's my absolute focus. I'm not an influencer. The trappings are a nice side issue, which I enjoy in moderation but which will never impair me on the field."

Hate speech on social media is a big issue these days. How do you deal with that?
"Luckily I'm rarely faced with that. But in general, it's obviously an absolute no go of our time. Simply attacking someone anonymously without looking into the background – I think that's cowardly. Personally, I always try to filter social media so that I only extract the positive. When it comes to hate comments, you should always realise that there are individuals behind them. But it would be a lie to say that they pass you by without a trace. Everyone should always question what they are posting, what they are doing and why they are doing it."

You inspire people with your achievements on the pitch and your conduct off it. Do you see yourself as a role model?
"I'm incredibly happy about everyone I see walking around in my jersey – that's something very special for me. It's important to me to be authentic and approachable. Sold-out matches are not a matter of course for us, but the increasing numbers of spectators show that we are reaching people. I think women's football shows that there are no limits if you believe in your goals and are prepared to give it your all."

Is that something you want to convey? Stay true to yourself, be approachable, be open with others – and work hard.
"Yes, those are the values I was brought up with at home. Regardless of what I've achieved, I always want to remain grounded and keep it real. At the end of the day, I'm a completely normal young woman, who plays professional football."

Will your team spirit lead to trophies in 2024?
"A lot is possible. The exit from the Champions League hurt, but we have two competitions where we're super motivated and will give everything until the end."

What's your wish for the future of women's football?
"It would be unrealistic to expect that there's a huge jump and we reach the same salary regions as the men at some point. However, I hope we keep becoming more visible and being given platforms to draw attention to ourselves beyond the pitch. It's crucial that women's football has faces that fans can identify with. We are on the right track."

Will you stay in women's football after retiring?
"I want to play for a few more years first. I can easily imagine that at a later date. A coaching job is probably not for me, but behind the scenes would be exciting."

It's become an established practice for FC Bayern men to stay with the club after their career.
"I wouldn't say no to that. Even as a child I trained in Bayern kits, trips to the Allianz Arena were a highlight for me, and it still feels unreal playing there myself today. The familiarity that's transmitted at FC Bayern is something I feel every day in our team. 'Mia san mia' is not just a meaningless saying. It gives me an incredible amount, I can really identify with it." 

A question to finish with: you always wear a plait for sport. How long does it last?
Only five minutes, actually. But if it doesn't suit me, then I'll redo it. That may sound vain but that's not what I'm about: I'm just a perfectionist." (laughs)

Images: Amelie Niederbuchner