‘Hearts and souls’: Werkself captain Carolin Simon on Ask Me Anything

Simon played for the Bayer 04 women’s team from 2013 to 2016; ahead of the current season, she returned to the Rhineland from Bayern Munich – having won five German league titles – and she was immediately appointed captain. When asked what had changed compared to her previous time at the Werkself, the 33-year-old was clear: “The club has become far more professional; the conditions are significantly better than they were back then, and you can really see that women’s football is being taken forward.” Despite all the changes, however, one thing has remained the same: “Then as now, it’s still a club that has a family atmosphere, and you can really sense that the fans and everyone who works here have put their hearts and souls into it.”

as captain "leading the way on and off the pitch"

In the current campaign, with the Werkself currently fourth in the table after six Bundesliga matchdays, Simon has clear goals. “Personally, I want to live up to my role as captain; that’s extremely important to me,” she wrote: “I want to lead the way both on and off the pitch and I hope to achieve the big goal we all share: a place in European competition!”

Favourite away ground? “I love the UHS”

When asked about her favourite away ground, Simon didn’t have to think twice: “There are lots of great away grounds. But I’ve always enjoyed playing in Leverkusen – I love the UHS (Ulrich Haberland Stadium, ed.). That’s why it’s all the better I can play here all the time now.”

Cruciate ligament injuries: “There is a good level of awareness now”

A topic that is particularly prevalent in women’s football at the moment was also discussed: cruciate ligament injuries. Simon knows from her own experience just how difficult such a setback can be, and therefore emphasised the importance of prevention. “Unfortunately, this really is a major issue; I’ve been through it myself. Basically, it’s important to work on strength and athleticism, and ideally to start as early as possible.” At the same time, she recognises a positive trend: “I believe that clubs are now well aware of this and are trying to take all the relevant factors into account.”

Day-to-day training: “A cool mix of routines and new things”

One fan asked Simon about her typical weekly training programme. “It’s a cool mix of routines and new things. Basically, a week’s training is structured around a matchday. In theory, you can work backwards from that to work out what to do and when, so that you’re ultimately in peak condition and perfectly prepared for the match,” said the former international: “A day starts with indoor preparation before heading out onto the pitch. Warm-up routine, injury-prevention exercises and activation of key muscle groups. Then we head out onto the pitch with the team. After training, we go back inside for ‘post-training recovery’: cycling, stretching, foam rolling, an ice bath, and sometimes a bit of upper-body work – depending on how strenuous the session was.”

For the experienced Simon, the mental aspect now also plays an important role in her career. “It’s no longer a taboo subject,” she emphasised: “It’s so important, not just in professional sport, but in life in general. In football, I use lots of relaxation techniques that help me wind down a bit.” Despite a few difficult phases, she has not yet seriously considered giving up. “I simply love what I do and am absolutely passionate about it,” wrote Simon: “Despite the many sacrifices of recent years, I try to remind myself to be grateful for everything I’ve experienced and for the life I lead.”

A soft spot for Pokémon: “Pikachu is my all-time favourite”

Things took a slightly less serious, but all the more personal, turn when the conversation turned to Simon’s passion for Pokémon. She began collecting Pokémon as a child, but later lost sight of that passion for a while. “A few years ago, I somehow rediscovered it for myself and I’ve been fully into it ever since. Back then, I played the Yellow and Silver editions on the Game Boy,” revealed the captain, before naming her favourite Pokémon: “I’m quite boring – Pikachu is my all-time favourite.”

Second AMA – further Q&A sessions planned

The Reddit Ask Me Anything session with Carolin Simon was the second session on the official Bayer 04 channel on the platform after the first with honorary captain and club representative Stefan Kießling. Further sessions featuring other personalities from the Black and Red world are planned.