Raus aus der Komfortzone - mit Sjoeke Nüsken

Yes, and then the third offer came, and then I said, well, if you ask Chelsea three times, at some point you should add it. It was also twice abroad, and it was also very difficult at times, where I had to make decisions. And from then on it was already like that, that I was the second choice, so from now on, my role has changed completely. I am such a person, that when I am in football, I am also outside of the space happy. And if I don't train well, the day will also run. In the meantime, I am doing well with it. So I also have a sports psychologist on my hand, and it helps me extremely well, that I can simply separate football and private. I think I have already proven it more often, that I can simply take a lot from this feedback and that I can turn it into positive things. I have almost become crazy. I was lucky that my parents moved to Munich for me. I don't know what would have happened if I had been all alone there. It was mentally really hard. So, Rhein Gradenberg looks back at his time at the FC Bayern. A phase in which he experienced the shadow of the professional football skin. His story is represented by young players, who leave their comfort zone early on, looking for new challenges and jump to the top of the world. But is it really always as simple as it seems from the outside? New country, new language, new people, no problem at all? We want to find it out. Our guest today is Sjochen Hüsken. Chelsea's down national player. A young player who makes early decisions. After four years at Eintracht Frankfurt, with a standing spot and a well-known environment, they embarked on the step into the country in 2023, to one of the best teams in the world, the Chelsea FC Women, with just 22 years. London, new language, new league, new competition. Suddenly, nothing is understandable anymore. No standing spot, no family in the vicinity. Only she herself, her partner and the will to establish herself at the top of the world. Two years later, 79 compulsory games, contract extension until 2027, but also phases with fewer use times belong to it. Sjochen Hüsken is known for her use, her box-to-box game and for mental strength. For example, at the European Championship. In the quarterfinals against France, she meets in the game, shoots a penalty, takes 11 meters, shoots a ball again and turns. We want to know, how did it go in phases in which the use times were lower? Did there be doubts, maybe even the desire to return? How do you keep focus when it doesn't work? And how can you grow at this moment? A player who rarely chooses the easy path and impresses us with it sustainably. Sjochen Hüsken, nice that you're there. Thank you for being here, hello. Yes, we are very happy, that you are here today. I have been a fan of Sjochen for a long time. Fabi, since the European Championship, can you say something? Yes, the word "later" you can say. I have been a fan of Sjochen for a long time and I have just said it. I am really very disappointed, although we have never personally met, that my Instagram likes have not been reviewed. That really hit me deep in my heart. I'm sorry, but I will probably start now. Yes, I hope so. I don't know if I would force it otherwise. Of course, it's a bit of a joke, but what is not a joke is that I know more about it. At least I have mentioned it again and again. I am also a fan of women's football and I can't understand people who have a basic disagreement. It's not even about time anymore, but it's just a joke. I have followed you as a player for a long time and your story is really exciting. Because you are very aware of this step, which we will talk about in more detail in England. When you compare women's football with women's football in Germany, it is something different. Everything is a bit faster, a bit more physical. And above all it is also media and commercial, a completely different level. Yes, I think you can tell us a little bit about Sjochen. It's a different world, isn't it? Yes, definitely a bit different. Just as you say, it's media. What is done here in England is sometimes really crazy. And many English players are recognized here on the streets and are treated like superstars. What is not always the case here in Germany, if you are on the streets, then you are still the human being and you are not perceived as a footballer like here in England. I think what you have done is a step to go into the uncertain and also into the bigger world. This is what many people are certainly doing in other professions, where they have to make decisions, where they may have job offers, where it is possible to go out of the comfort zone, to do something new, to do something bigger. So I think what we are talking to you today can be really good for other professions. Yes, extremely. And I am also interested in how it was for you, because I have also been in my career abroad once, I was in Spain. And briefly even in England, but that is now, I think, I have been here for eleven years. Yes, it's really bad how time goes by. It was 2014. But that's why it's totally interesting, let's dive deeper. Very briefly, before we go, Fabi, we have given our guest a nickname for our live event on the 7th, it's called "2026 in Bielefeld" in the locker room. It's Tommy and Tommy Schmidt, for those of you who have still missed the name. Here again briefly for you. There are no more tickets, right? No. But please, please, make the shop full, make the shop full. It's not like I hadn't been on it for the past weeks, that you should buy your cards. I'll do it again now, get your cards, because afterwards there will also be a party. It will also be good, and there is also the chance that you will meet a lot of people, because all our guests, who were here once, and guests. Are you from England, Joke, of course, also, let's see if there are any plans for the game. But when, then it's not that far away from you, from home. You come from Ham, right? Ham, exactly, yes. If not so far, yes, if I have time, I definitely like it. I once drove from Ham from the train station to Bielefeld with a taxi. That's about 55 minutes. The train has fallen out again. The train has fallen out again, yes. So if there is an invitation, you have to know if you want to give me a further disappointment with a statement. Or not. Stay with you. Well, yes. Yes, let's start with something relevant, Joke. I just recently joined the National Team in the National League final against Spain. I played against France twice, in the home game in Düsseldorf I was even on the spot. Very big cinema, how did you feel about it? Yes, very good. So now a third time somehow to stand over against France is of course a statement from the national team. And that was, above all, the first game was incredible. In Düsseldorf, the mood. I think what we also showed on the pitch was really a good game. And yes, we are super happy that we are playing in the final. We have revenge against Spain. Hopefully, of course, it goes better there. Fabi, I just thought about it. I completely forgot to play the ball in order to introduce Joke again. I am not aware now. I think everyone actually knows Joke. But do you still want to have a few more plays together? He has already set up to Grecia, but I ... I have already seen your knees. Yes, I have learned. I let you speak. So I didn't want to interrupt you now. I don't know much about this Joke yet. Yes, I always try to get a little better in the presentation and just get the really cool facts out now. You could talk about it, Joke. I could tell you a lot about you, because I will prepare very well. But I just broke it down so that people just know a little bit why you are sitting there in London and you are drawing and no longer in Ham, where you were born and where you started to play football. Later you played next to me, Güttersloh. Did you have a place in this art race? Did you already have it? Tönnies Arena, yes. But Güttersloh, that was more like a second game. I didn't really play there, to be honest. You are not very well informed. That doesn't lie to me. I thought you were well prepared. I will prepare well, I thought so. But we let it stand like this. The second game is also a game. The decisive thing is that Joke and I have already stood on the same plate. I have already stood there. I know that the Möwen once flew, because it is the Tönnies Fleischfabrik. You just come forward, we have more, but actually ... Yes, exactly. But if I say now, you played FFZ Frankfurt, then I'm not getting too far out of the window. No, that's right, that's right. And then this conscious change came from us. You decided to change your mind to abroad and do something new. And now you are at the FC Chelsea. You became the European champion in 2017. I didn't make it. You have a bronze medal at the Olympics. No matter what comes now, you didn't make it. You don't know. You got a bronze medal at Olympia in Paris in 2024. You are several times English champion and poker winner. And now the good facts that interest me come. Closed studio in the construction engineering department. I always have a hat on when people do something reasonable next door. And several times German youth champion in tennis. And I played tennis once, too. But I'm not a youth champion, am I? Yes, exactly. You can do a lot. You can do a lot. You can do a lot. The tennis career could also be decided now. From having into the big football world. Take us with you. You were once before the decision. Do you want to play tennis or football? Why did it become football? And when did this knowledge come to you? Okay, here you can really give something with a career. Yes, everything was actually when I was 15. Then I decided between tennis and football. Because it just didn't work anymore temporarily. Both got a hat. Because I also went to the gym. In KM Kaisau, in the girl's football gym. And then I just made the decision. It was a relatively simple decision for me, I have to say. Because football always made me much more fun. In tennis, of course, I was a bit successful. But I always had a bit of a forced feeling to go there. And then I was alone on the pitch. And I couldn't really lose at all. I was a very bad loser. A lot of hits were broken. And I couldn't stand this pressure anymore. In this young age, you have to think about it. But then I decided for football. I'm very happy about it. And then I had my way in the sports internet. And then somehow I got into the professional direction. But also because the team is more awesome than individual sports? Yes, definitely. So it's not important either. Because I think that you always have to imagine that. Especially as a single athlete or a single athlete. Of course, this has to work. And the whole focus is only on you. Then it's different again. So that's what channeled you in the hitter. Yes, no, standing alone on the pitch. I always thought that. If you made a mistake, you were sorry for it. And then there was no one else who could sort out the mistakes. And it's different in football. There are ten others on the pitch who can give the support on the pitch. It's funny, because we had Matt Semester a few weeks ago. And he actually said exactly that as the positive. If I make a mistake, I know at least that it's only my fault. And it can only be on me. It's so different, you can feel that. Yes, and then very interesting. We just heard from Fabi, the way to Frankfurt, then Bundesliga, national player. Then this moment is kind of the classic way in Germany. Then you often go to Bayern or to Wolfsburg. If you have reached that level. But with you it was different. You went to Chelsea. Somehow a brave decision from the outside. You were still totally young. I said it at the beginning. Tell me how it came to stand. At this moment I want to go abroad. How did it feel for you at the time? At the beginning I have to say that it was a very difficult decision for me. So from the beginning I actually never went abroad. Especially in English. I can't speak English at all. In the beginning English was my worst experience in school. That's why I never imagined going abroad. And then after the years in Frankfurt it was something like that. You were the standing player in Frankfurt. You played every game there. And then came the moment where I said I needed a new challenge. Then it started with my advisor. He then brought me into contact. A year and a half before I went to Chelsea. He brought me into contact with Emma, with the coach of Chelsea. With the former coach. And the conversations were really great. At the beginning I had a really good trust in her. And she immediately showed me a lot of what advantages there are in England to play. A year and a half before that. I think it was in the summer of '22 when I said I can't imagine that. My studio was not finished yet. I still had to finish. It just didn't fit. I also wanted to play with Frankfurt Champions League. And then it was so that we played the quality of the Champions League. We didn't qualify. Then the offer came again in the winter. What does it look like? You didn't qualify for the Champions League. What are you going to do now? And then I had 24 hours to decide. It was really before the deadline. The call came. I was like, oh God, what am I doing now? It's so cool that you asked me again. I'm not doing it. But I couldn't really say goodbye to the team. It was just one day on the other. What should I do now? That happened pretty quickly. Because Nico Anautis, the coach of Frankfurt, said to me, no, we're not doing that. We're not selling it in the winter. And then the third offer came. And then I said, if you ask her three times, at some point you should say it again. And then I was lucky that my sister Yerdes, who also played football, started again. She immediately gave me an offer and said, if you ask her three times, then you'll definitely do it. And now I'm really happy that I did it. That I got the chance again. And I'm really happy now. That's what my sister Yerdes said. Who was that? I asked her three times. That's crazy. If you ask her three times, it would be an exception. And if you ask her three times, it would be an exception. And if you ask her three times, it would be an exception. If you ask her three times, it would be an exception. If you ask her three times, it would be an exception. And if you ask her three times, it would be an exception. And if you ask her three times, it would be an exception. And if you ask her three times, it would be an exception. And I'm really happy that the coach made the decision. Yes, definitely. I never knew what to do. Because the offer was so good. But I felt so comfortable in Frankfurt. So it was a difficult decision from 24 hours. It's not possible for me because I have to sleep at night and I have to do it all right. If you have to describe the process a little more intensively, I mean, of course, and then you think to yourself, yes, come on. Otherwise, it's going through my lips at some point. If you ask her four times, it would be an exception. But you said earlier, actually, it would never be an exception for you. How was the process? It wasn't just the fact that she asked her third time. You get more and more from each other. What has changed with you? Did you get the permission from the inside, from the outside? Yes, I got a lot of permission from my family, especially those who are very important to me. Especially with Jördes, who just understands football and always understands me. We talk a lot about these football topics. She gave me so much permission and really encouraged me because I was really afraid to speak English in front of this step. It was really hardly imaginable. But then there was this good feeling with Emma. She immediately gave me the feeling that I fit well into the team and that I can feel very comfortable there. And I think those were the points that gave me the opportunity of my family and also the good feeling with the new coach. Then you made the decision and then you went to England and asked yourself how it was the first days of the week. How was it to get there? How was it to run into this cabin where all the stars are? You said, "Hello, I am the CEO of Germany. I am playing with you now." How was it? I have to say, it was in the summer when we didn't have a good time with Germany at the World Cup. That's why I was pretty early at Chelsea, where all the others weren't there yet because they were still at the World Cup. That's why it was good for me because I just arrived in a small group. I was able to find a little too much. But then all the players came back. The first impressions were directly on the pitch. We were also directly at the men's in Copham at the pitch. Totally huge great football places. How many of them work in the background so that all the places are playable and are in top condition. The changing dressing room was renovated in the summer. It was still like this where I thought it was awesome to have the privilege to play and to have such conditions. You have to take care of yourself every day. Then the gym has everything you need. Trainer staff, how many of them still work there in the background is impressive. That's awesome. You just want to play under such conditions. Yes, I understand that. If you have great conditions then you make such a change. Of course you feel totally confirmed in the first moments because you say I want to play football. I want to play football here. But that's all from a sportsman's point of view. I am interested in how the man was at the moment. We have already heard from him in the intro. Your partner is right over there. Was it clear from the beginning that he is coming along? Yes, he immediately said that he would be really happy. He probably helped at the beginning. Yes, definitely. He was here and supported me with all the things. Without him I don't know if I would have done it. He made the decision very simple and he always said that he would come along. But he would have said that I would stay here in Germany and I don't know if I would have made a different decision. Of course you shouldn't always make a decision, but many people have already kept me in Frankfurt. That's why it was a very, very difficult decision or would have been a even more difficult decision. You also need support. Exactly, exactly. That's why my question is I know this at the moment. We are just athletes. As long as we do our sport and are in this sport environment we are thoughtful like in a movie in something. But as soon as you leave the training ground and you come home, you realize that you are still the same person who I was a few weeks ago. But in a completely different city in a world metropolis, in one of the biggest cities people speak... It's quite difficult to understand if you are not aware of it. You don't stand on the table and I am German. You also need to learn to speak in everyday life. There were doubts. How quickly did you get there? How well did you get into life in London? I got into it very well. I had no doubts at all. Of course you thought you had everything in Frankfurt. How did you do it? You always played every Bundesliga game. You got the trust from the coach. How did I give up everything there? So the first weeks here the training, great conditions. The training was just great fun. I don't know, I am a person when it comes to football I am also outside of the space happy. Football is a part of my life. If I don't train well I will run the day. But I was really lucky that I got into it right away. I immediately understood with the girls and then it went pretty fast. Great. I got into it right away. For those of us who don't know the English league what we would say are the biggest differences between women in the Bundesliga and why it is so attractive. I also played in WSL 11 years ago. I also found the conditions and the overall quality great. We also have more players who also play at Manchester City or at Sidney Lohmann who has also been changed. What makes it so attractive especially for German players in England? Yes, especially the conditions which you have already mentioned are way better than in Germany. And in terms of players it is very attractive because there is a lot going up and down. There are hardly any games where you have to take a break but you always have to go up and down. I was in the first game after 60 minutes because it was so exhausting. Of course you have to get used to the tempo but you have to play the 4-3 where it always goes and you shoot a lot of goals and you don't stand back trying to change the goal. Every team tries to shoot goals so there is a lot of tempo in it. I thought it would be normal to play after 60 minutes but it wasn't the same. I was changed. Would you like to compare your km with Zirkus km? No. We don't need to talk about it now. Of course I am very happy with my personal story. I also got a lot of requests for this. I played in one club for 13 years and still whenever I talk to players who are in abroad I get a little night attack. Maybe I would like to do that too. I think it is a great experience that you should do and where you don't get the chance often. I will go deeper because you just said Zirkus, you always do well when it goes well on foot. You also had phases with Chelsea where you didn't do as well as you imagined. I already said that a few times while I was in abroad I had to say those were very difficult phases. I had a lot of fun and it was nice to look back the best times in my career because personally I grew up to get out of this comfort zone and to have the courage and for the personality I think it is an important step where you doubt and wonder what I am doing here. I don't know if it was the same against Joke. You often have these questions when it doesn't go well and when the family is so far away why am I so far away could have stayed with the family or simple things my sister got 2 years ago I am not even there I have seen my nephew 3 times in these 2 years and it is difficult to have these compromises. I think that you reflect and clever enough to know that I am going abroad I just have to take my family to see my family regularly. It doesn't matter if you play for the national team you don't have to drive with the car when you have a game in Germany but you also have to fly over you take long journeys you can imagine I have never met it myself but I think you miss your environment and what you are used to in Germany is to meet with the family in less than an hour you can imagine yes, definitely until today my friends in Frankfurt also miss my school friends of course you can see once or twice a year but it is very rare to stay in touch with your phone as you already did I am not the one who always reacts and then answers relatively quickly so it is more difficult to stay in touch so in the end you have to make a brave step to make it so conscious definitely it wasn't easy yes, I think so and then there is of course who has already said that there is a team with world class players and that brings me a bit to the topic what Fabio and I have already talked about two tiers namely the topic of competition is there something else if you want to settle down in such a competition because in Frankfurt you played I think you were a captain if I remember correctly I think I saw you at least with the captain's team definitely as an absolute staff national player and then you come there and you also have phases where you have to look at the event from the bank and to settle down in such a competition but do you care or how do you feel to have to prove yourself every day and also not even a week to be able to do Larry Farry because you know exactly all the players are sitting in my neck and I have to give everything to fight for my place at the beginning I didn't really see myself in the competition I thought I would just take the step I enjoy training with the stars to have great conditions I wanted to have the year to arrive to have conditions and just grow on it and then everything came differently I played relatively fast just like every game it was quite surprising for me and I integrated right away into the team and then after a year I changed the coach so it felt like a completely new Chelsea we bought a lot of competition then bought a lot in winter and from then on it was already like that it was my second choice so from now on my role has completely changed and then I felt this competition for the first time because before it was more like I am here and have fun and I just do my thing here and I didn't even have any claims I didn't even have any claims I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims because I didn't even have any claims and I didn't even have any claims and then I thought I should be able to ask what kind of claims do you give me because you want to grow and want to take something out and want to develop and want to develop but of course I didn't dare because I just took it and then I wanted to wait for the next few weeks and it hardly changed I was more of a second choice and of course I had a lot to fight for and of course I had a lot to fight for so it was a very, very difficult time it's still not easy I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I'm still not the current player but I said that it's not always in the pure sequence but I said that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence that it's not always in the pure sequence what was that for you? Yeah, first of all for the first point I'm going to forget all of them Yeah, I just wanted to say what was the first point How did Joke get home? Yeah, exactly I have to say, I'm doing well now I also have a sports psychologist on my hand and he helps me extremely well so that I can just separate football and private so that when I get here I can just be Joke I shouldn't have a bad mood Now, congratulations and I never made it Really, I mean it seriously I mean it really seriously because I think it's the most difficult for a sportsman to separate these two areas because how many points have we already talked about just to define yourself over sports success Yes, that's so blatant self-esteem and actually everyone who sits here always says "I had fucking phases because it didn't work" and I think that's a strong sign or how you say I've learned to deal with it and I can do that now, I can separate it that also shows that you can learn that you can deal with it You're 10 years younger than me and you're just so much more clever to immediately notice and understand and to take help in terms of that I didn't want to interrupt you for long but I wanted to say it briefly But that was different for me it took a very long time to get to the right Of course it's still difficult to get the confirmation that you won't play again so it's always an up and down because you're fighting in training or trying to fight then you get another hit in the face you won't play again you won't be changed it was really different than easy but yes, I'm doing very well I'm a happy Yoke here at home in London and in training I try to give more success and to continue to show my coach But you're also at the point where you say "Ok, I'm the one who works exclusively on me" and to be honest there's also this phase where you weren't at fault Yes, definitely There was a long phase where I was also very happy which is always bad then also on the football field "Wow, now she's playing again why am I not playing?" "Wow, I like the coach more" "she has no idea about it" Of course, first of all, the mistake was different Yes, but it's human so it's human Did Yoke actually already answer your 17 questions? Yes, she did While she's talking, I think theoretically you can change that to any profession for which you switch to abroad because in her case now the people have called three times, they made me an offer three times then I decide to come there and suddenly I have "Change my boss?" Yes, and everything is different I went abroad and suddenly everything feels a little more difficult I don't know, I think you can transfer that to many different areas and professions because it's just difficult and the courage requires that to be done and then also difficult phases at the end it's normal that everything goes through but Yoke is also young and I always pull my hat when young people have this courage to do that Fabi says New courage requires courage New challenges a new language like here at Yoke giving up old security that everything is first unknown and can be uncomfortable or also make fear But when we are brave brave, we also open a lot of space for growth That can also be arranged well psychologically with the learning zone model by Tom Seninger This describes how personal growth arises when we leave our comfort zone In the comfort zone we feel secure and have a routine but there is hardly any development Only when we drive out into the so-called learning or growth zone real learning begins There we develop our abilities build self-confidence and continue to develop sporty as personal We all know that on the one hand the comfort zone where it is comfortable but also little new happens and on the other hand maybe even the overwhelming zone where it gets a little too much too insecure, too uncertain and right there in between is the zone that we call learning or growth zone So it's very easy let's go into the growth zone or it's not that easy because the step out of the comfort zone is difficult for us and there is also an explanation the so-called status quo bias to stay safe or comfortable even if we know that a new impulse would be better in the long term But our brain demonstrates security and assess possible losses stronger than potential gains So change means uncertainty and uncertainty feels threatening That's why many prefer to stay in trust even if they know that they stagnate there But that's exactly where the chance lies when we leave the comfort zone we open the space for development Yoke has waged the step and showed how to go through courage and trust and everyone knows that not only in performance whether you start a new job move to another city or learn a new language a certain uncertainty at the beginning is part of it when you want to grow But as we also see here for example from Yoke it can be explained to set your own fears or a new impulse What are you afraid of? When do you realize that you are in the comfort zone even if you want to be a step further Take one thing that you wanted to go on for a long time but you didn't trust Don't worry, you don't have to go to England But maybe there is one thing that feels uncomfortable or unsafe and goes on with courage Exactly, to keep in mind that you are at this point and it doesn't work but I want to prove it and I can prove it and I will continue to do so If your national coach says I want to have the players who are members of the club do you do that with a little pressure or worry sometimes because it's not like that even though it's a team where it's more important to be a member of the club than in many other teams because I wanted to know his opinion how he sees it when I stay here and of course my minutes are not going to be anymore or hopefully more but in the first period I didn't really change much I just wanted to make it clear that I definitely have a bigger claim and I'm not satisfied with the time because I think that otherwise I would have sent a wrong picture of you because I want to play more and of course that makes me a little bit more pressure but as I said I just want to get through and I just have the full confidence in myself and I want to prove it to everyone So you are aware of difficult situations that can be said with the change but also with the extension do you think that's for you or do you think it's too much because I think on the pitch and the one who never goes the easy way who always takes over the responsibility look back to the quarterfinal at the European Championship so who didn't see the game has his own fault but then you have to say you do the 1-1, you shoot 11m you still shoot 11m again, the ball and the house are just so ice cold that everything with the captain is more pressure and more responsibility do you think it helps to go forward? I think you can say that especially this game describes it very well but I also have to say I actually didn't want to shoot this 11m again, the second time you don't have to say that it doesn't fit in the picture it doesn't matter, you went there I saw it, I didn't bring anyone so you went there that's true but I think when I have feedback I just want to learn from it and I want to get better I think I have proven it more often that I can take a lot of feedback and that I can turn it into positive things as I said, women's football I like to look at nationality I didn't know when I saw the first international game but the first international game what you did I don't know if you played in-fighting was it one of the two? you both played in-fighting I don't know I don't know but I played in-fighting and you played in-fighting and you played in-fighting and you played in-fighting and you turned in very tight situations as a sexer you always played in-fighting also in pressure situations and I already thought you weren't in-fighting before but that's why in the pre-season I was impressed how you played in different positions you dressed up as Benny Hürvedes who was supposed to switch from in-fighter to left-fighter he already got a Swiss pass I would have said it shouldn't be against Benny but I think actually you are a parade for a player who always shows his mental strength and takes responsibility where does that come from? has it developed over the years? is it something that comes from tennis? I have to take responsibility for myself anyway and would you like to do that in a team? yes, I was thinking maybe a little bit about tennis but I think it has developed so I wasn't always mentally strong and I also doubted myself I think that's part of it and I still am when I make mistakes sometimes I make a mistake and he is still in my head when I want to fall asleep so it's not all perfect but I try to learn from those mistakes and try to bring my mental strength to the spot I think it's easy for you but it's not that easy you just scored 11 meters against Frankreich then you take the second 11 meters then it comes to you know I'm locked in the final that's part of the story you had it all in your head and if it's just for a few seconds you just have to press it because I just know that it's all in your head but I have to say you don't have a secret no, unfortunately not otherwise I would have already told you but in this game we were all in a tunnel so I didn't get anything we also shot the docu and we looked at them and there were so many things that I just forgot that we got the second set no, it was just good I totally forgot I think you are there but you are in a tunnel and you hardly get anything that's why I did it in a flow I'm interested in that do you have a form game any routines or techniques or do you know anything so we can learn from you because I find it super interesting so I didn't have it but I had it too but I never had this stage before what do I do before the game I already have my usual routine but there is actually nothing special just the roles what you do before the game I also started maybe that's what it's about actually meditating in the evening before to prepare for the game maybe that's what helps me so it definitely brings me to the game that's why I do it and you just talked to your sports psychologist take us with you when did you start working with each other and when you said sports psychologist I took an R how does he help you or what does he give you with his hand that you develop further on that level I went to him that was before the season but it was that I already noticed it can be a very difficult season and I want to do what I have to do and I don't want to feel bad all the time but I still want to be happy and I also want to learn from this situation because I just believe I wanted to say that earlier I think I have learned so much from this from this bad phase because I just learned from this other side where I get involved not to play every time to play a game to play a game just this negative that comes with it it's a double punishment you don't play, you have a game and you have a game so it's a punishment and I think that as a complete player I was able to get to know both sides and I always had the responsibility to take more responsibility to be a team and I think that's really important when you were able to snub the other side and he helped you to accept that and to accept that Fabia told me about you when we talked about competition in my career, I was almost always a regular player only towards the end at Wolfsburg I also had phases where it wasn't like that I also said you always want to play but to get to know this other side really helps to become a real leader because you can get involved in every position, in every character in the team you know exactly how the players don't play and if you are a captain you don't want to play them because I think it's bad and that's why I am totally with Zioke that it really helps when you really want to be a leadership that you understand everyone and can get involved in everyone I am also really grateful now that I was able to do this in the beginning of my career I think anyway that we all can learn a lot when we are open and ready and when we continue to ask questions you would also say that for you, regardless of Zioke as a player for you as a human being there was a further development here in London, at Chelsea there is also this difficult time and I just have to learn and I develop myself as a human being yes definitely and so I can sign would you sign like that? would you sign like that? would you sign like that? would you also sign like that? would you sign like that? you can also say yes so I think it's always not wrong to weigh so of course you have to weigh how high or I don't know what the risk is how big the success can also be exactly I love to go into a bit of risk and I think you already noticed that and I am super grateful for the support which is absolutely important in such decisions that you have and give me a good feeling and then you can maybe win in the end at the beginning of the intro I spoke to Ryan Gravenberg FC Bayern Munich who also had a very difficult time who is now also a world-class player and he also said that I had my family and I don't know how I would have made it without my family a very difficult time somehow a bit careful in there but somehow not again because I already have the feeling that you may not have as much struggle as him how would you compare yourself with Ryan Gravenberg the step to the abroad that definitely connects us I think this doubt and this difficult and this support of my family I think that we already have both I have my friend with me he had his family I needed the support that he also needed so it's already parallel to see but yes I may not have as much struggle as him otherwise I would have maybe already given up everything here so would it in any case at your younger me if it were to stand in front of you I don't know if you can remember but I think our first meeting we had at the national team it should have been where you invited the first or second time and I think it could have been maybe in 2019 around the beginning of the year so when I look back how ultra young you were you had to be 18 or something and what you were there for a young player for a player you also see that this mental strength and progress that is also something where you don't start in your career but where you really have to work hard and you really see that at Sjoke very well I can say again I'm always impressed by people who do things out of full conviction that I didn't do I don't ask myself for me it's like I've never done it again I was only in Germany, I was only in one club I didn't manage to change it I didn't want to you once made this step to change it now I ask myself you are already a certain time there that's what you heard from the conversation your personal approach and your goal will be to become an unrequited member then also to win titles to make games and so on and so forth national team of course you always want to play but of course there is a possibility and we all wish that you can do it the possibility is B you come to a point where you notice that it's not going on and you already made this step abroad then I ask myself do you want to maybe another abroad to get to know another country you also changed it to Madrid or is it the way you say for what reason ever I didn't change it and your wish is to return to your family and friends in Germany which is of course not a binding statement but I'm just interested and Joke is writing all the time today right it's a good question I haven't thought about it to be honest if everything shouldn't work out return to Germany I can't imagine to be honest I'm surprised but I think I like the English football so much it really fits to me that's why I can imagine staying here in England and then maybe in another club or maybe in another country which is also a cool experience just go out again from the comfort zone where I have to say I don't fit in the other league you always do that when I'm sitting together with Ture you always think too much you say "Spanish is awesome" I would like to as a player I don't know in USA there are a few Reus and Faubermäuse then I wouldn't have fit but I would have liked to Spain is also cool from the countryside nice weather also an experience nice to be in England a few more sunsets first of all we all know you will sit through it you will do it and then it still doesn't change that you can come to a point where you have to decide how your journey will go I am very curious about that I think first of all we are slowly getting to the end at this point I think it's really impressive because we often roll up topics that are difficult and so on both of you have a picture book career you won a title and you won an Olympic medal and so on you have achieved everything and you still had these little shadows in your career but with hard work and with personal growth and with mental strength that's why I think it's a positive example to have you sitting here and to hear how you can get out of difficult times you don't care what situation you are in so first of all thank you for giving us so many insights and also in difficult times to find yourself thank you for being here I had a lot of fun I would like to point out again nowadays it should be normal there are so many possibilities not only in the sports field but also in other areas you don't always have to ask for help sometimes it sounds like but it's easier to get help Sjoke is a sports psychologist in attack wow sorry I don't think she's in attack I don't think so welcome to your friend now everyone laughed again you take it in attack we always come back that we just have to open ourselves for new things from the outside as I said you can take in different professions for example you should be brave to be in comfort zone to be in comfort zone you should plan smaller or bigger challenges because they belong to life but if we see it as a possibility to grow on it it will probably be worth it especially the point that you grow on it I think that's the advantage I feel bad at the beginning and it's very difficult but you always come out stronger and I think that's the most important and the most important thing now the nation's league is winning against spain in the final then it was a wonderful end of the year then I'll wait for a post then I'll like it and then Sjoke will personally write and say thank you for your like that's welcome thank you for being there nice greetings to england yes, nice greetings and in front of Christmas time I'm looking forward to it Tooth is organizing our Christmas party that's why I'm looking forward to Sjoke to see us on the 7th 26th in Bielfeld perfect, see you bye Sjoke Nysken 20 years young and so rich experience we wanted to know what it means to get out of his comfort zone and after the episode we are definitely smarter I personally even feel confirmed by my own experiences and we talked about it it doesn't always have to be abroad in the last weeks we have always talked about what it does to athletes if you don't play and statements like the ones from Gravenberg in the intro are certainly an extreme example but no one has ever said no problem, it doesn't matter we define ourselves strongly about success and when it doesn't work the foundation of your identity is bound and if you are far away from your environment from your family this effect can still be strengthened and right here Sjoke shows how to deal with it she adjusts frustration and difficult phases but then actively seeks help in her case with a sports psychologist in the conversation she is clearly focused and self-confident she takes the situation as a challenge and trusts herself and her qualities of course it was a process and there were certain days that were emotionally difficult but maybe this is exactly what our exchange journey is about difficult phases are not a low position but the opportunity to rediscover your own strength life goes on in phases and the important thing is to find acceptance and step by step to gain control of your own environment with the situation and one thing we want to emphasize Sjoke doesn't run away she sets the situation and extends her contract until 2027 of course it would be wrong to transfer your environment with difficult phases it's not that easy for every situation it's just individual but maybe we take one thing with us when it's going in the wrong direction actively speaks about search solutions that's exactly what Sjoke did and that's why it is worth to orient yourself in a player and a person like her after the episode we are even more convinced that Sjoke has a big career ahead of him maybe not only in the club but also with our national team Sjoke Nyskin nice that you were there how long is it? everything is okay ask me how long is it? I'm caught in my thinking world Terminals until the calendar like Jenga falls together my panic hits your pulse notification in the second day fuck I can't breathe it hits me to the core they want to live forever I'm trying to get through the day that's not a phase man it goes so far until the day is over fuck I can't breathe it hits me to the core they want to live forever I'm trying to get through the day that's not a phase man it hits me to the core they want to live forever I'm trying to get through the day that's not a phase man it hits me to the core they want to live forever I'm trying to get through the day that's not a phase man it hits me to the core [BLANK_AUDIO]