EXCLUSIVE: Mads Roerslev opens up on injury struggles, Wolfsburg loan so far, future and more

During the winter transfer window, Mads Roerslev joined Wolfsburg on loan from Brentford FC, eager to embark on a new challenge and secure regular playing time in Germany.

However, in an exclusive interview with Bulinews.com, the 25-year-old Danish international described his time at Wolfsburg so far as a “bumpy road,” with his hopes of consistent playing time disrupted by a spell on the sidelines since mid-March.

Roerslev was called up to the Denmark squad for the international break last month, but had to withdraw due to a persistent Achilles issue, which he has been working hard to recover from in recent weeks.

After returning to the Wolfsburg squad without making an appearance in last week’s 1-0 defeat to Union Berlin, the right-back now feels close to returning to full fitness ahead of his team’s upcoming Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig on Friday.

In the interview, Roerslev also discussed his overall experience on loan at Wolfsburg and reflected on the possibility of a permanent move to Germany, with just one year remaining on his contract with Brentford FC.

You’ve been out with an injury, but were back in the squad for last week’s game against Union Berlin. What is the nature of the injury, and how’s it looking for you now?

“I've been battling an Achilles tendon inflammation for a while now, and it was starting to get really bad. It got so bad that I couldn't move properly. It's always difficult with an injury like that. If you break your leg, for example, you know how long you're going to be out for, but with something like this you're suddenly in too much pain to move properly and be the best version of yourself as a player," Roerslev exclusively told Bulinews.com. 

“But since I had to pull out of the Denmark squad a few weeks ago, I've had a good period of rehabilitation and I'm in a much better place now. I returned to training before last week's game. I probably wouldn't have travelled for the game under normal circumstances, but because we were missing a few players, I decided to say that I was available if needed. I've had a few problems, but I hope to be fully available on Friday.”

Do you feel ready to start?

“I feel so, yes. I didn't take part in the full training on Monday, and it's not long until the next game, but I hope and believe that I'll be 100 percent ready if I continue to take the right steps.”

You've been in Germany for a few months now. How do you think your loan spell has been so far?

“There have been some hurdles along the way, of course. The injury, for example, has been a bit annoying. I came here to play every game and when that hasn’t been the case, it can look a bit strange. I hope I can come back from the injury well and finish the loan period in a good way.”

What are your goals for the rest of the loan period?

“As I said, to make a good impression. My foot feels a lot better now. So I feel I have a better foundation to show what I can do. And then, of course, it's up to the coach to give me playing time. When I get the chance, whether from the start or coming off the bench, I have to do well.”

How do you see your future after the summer and beyond?
“I'll take it as it comes. If I've learned anything from being part of this world, it's that you can't predict things. You can make as many plans as you want, but it is difficult to look ahead more than a month or so. Things can change so fast. So I can't really do anything but take it as it comes.”

Would you like to stay at Wolfsburg after your loan spell?
“We'll see. It depends on many things. I think it could go any way at the moment.”

What were the reasons behind your decision to go to Wolfsburg on loan? And how did the move come about?

“At the time, I had been at Brentford for five and a half years. I've really enjoyed being at Brentford, and the club has done a lot for me. I have nothing but positive things to say about the club and hopefully it goes the other way as well. Nobody forced me to do it. It was mainly because I wanted to try something new and get a breath of fresh air. 

"I felt I was in a good phase and I knew that if I wanted to make a name for myself in the national team I had to play regularly, otherwise it would be difficult. If you look at my history at Brentford, changes were made sometimes and I ended up on the bench. That was something I was trying to avoid. Obviously it's been a bit of a bumpy ride over here so far, but nobody could have predicted that. Hopefully I'll finish strongly here and then we'll see. There are no hard feelings between Brentford and myself. It was only about me wanting to try something new.”

How did the move to Wolfsburg come about?

“They showed interest and I had to choose between a number of clubs. But I could see myself being part of what I was being presented for. I think what was said and presented was very reasonable, so it just felt good."

Was it also a factor that there are other Danish players at Wolfsburg?

“It's not the most important thing, of course, but it's certainly an advantage to know someone beforehand when it comes to socialising and adjusting to a new team, especially at the beginning.”

Wolfsburg have a lot of Danish players besides you. How does it feel to be a part of a small Danish 'colony'?

“There have been a lot of Danish players at Brentford through all my years there, so I was kind of used to it before I came here (laughs). Of course it's not like I only talk to my Danish teammates. But it's great.”

After spending many years under Thomas Frank at Brentford, you're now playing under Ralph Hasenhüttl. Can you compare the two?

“It’s different here. I'd describe it as very German mentality-based. I've played under Thomas for a long time and he's an incredibly talented coach, both tactically and in terms of man-management. It's difficult to compare them because they have different styles, both on and off the pitch. There are different ways to be a good coach.”

Have you been particularly impressed by any of your teammates at Wolfsburg?

“Yes, I'd like to mention Tiago (Tomas). He's incredibly good technically and very quick. He's a player I can see going very far. He's good both in training and in games.”

Mohamed Amoura is arguably the Wolfsburg player who has attracted the most attention this season, and he's been linked with a move to the Premier League. Having played in the English top flight yourself, could you see him doing well there?

“Absolutely. He has incredible speed. He's not that big, but he's so fast. He's very dangerous and difficult for defenders to deal with because of his speed and the way he's twisting and turning. As long as you're scoring and assisting, you can do well anywhere.”

What are the biggest differences between playing in the Premier League and the Bundesliga?

“In terms of style, it's a bit more back and forth in the Bundesliga. In the Premier League, you generally try to keep the ball more, get some passes together, make the opposition players run before you suddenly strike. A lot of games in the Bundesliga are very open and go back and forth. That's probably the biggest difference.”

Who have been the most difficult players to defend against in your career?

“Looking back, the most difficult was probably Adama Traoré, he was lightning fast and very strong. You couldn't really impose yourself on him physically. Raheem Sterling was also really difficult to defend against. He got a penalty from a challenge I made. He was really good at getting into positions to win fouls, very quick and technically good with the ball.”

You're going through a rough patch with Wolfsburg at the moment, having lost your last three games. Do you have an explanation for your poor results?

“We're in a difficult period. It seems like things aren't really clicking out for us and we can't really play the way we want to. It is hard to say exactly what the reasons are. But I'm sure we'll turn things around. The only thing we can do is dig deep and focus on the next game.”

Going into Friday's game against Leipzig, how do you see your chances of getting a result?

“We played against them in the quarter-finals of the cup and they won thanks to a very soft penalty. We gave them a run for their money in that game. We're coming off a couple of defeats, so we've got something to prove. I hope we go into the game at full speed and get the crowd behind us, because then it's very difficult for any opponent to play in Wolfsburg.”

Looking into the future, is there a particular league you'd like to play in?

“I don't really focus on the league so much as the club. But of course you want to play in as good a league as possible.”

Is there a particular club you've always dreamed of playing for?

“I was a Manchester United fan when I was a kid…”

There are several Danish players there too, which I assume would suit you well?

“Yeah, that would be nice (laughs). It's impressive how many Danes are playing there now.”