TeamHardersson

On the second day of the Leverkusen training camp in Rieden, Bavaria, Carlotta Wamser takes the listener away. The second unit is still in place for her and her colleagues, but before that, the German national team takes 30 minutes to talk about her future, interesting inquiries, new positions and much more.

A year ago, you said your favorite role was that of the right-back. You could "not even imagine playing elsewhere." What went wrong, Ms. Wamser?

(laughs) I can take back the statement. I have played so many positions in the past few months. I always need a little time to find my way around in a new role, but so far I have felt comfortable everywhere.

At Bayer, you were sometimes in demand as a right-back in 2025/26 or as a [ten], but played mainly in the unusual position on the left back. Why did you like that?

Of course, it resembles the position on the right back. I can make a lot of intense runs, press the opponent and put pressure offensively. The only difference is that I have to use my strong right foot differently and use the left one more often.

How hard was it to get used to the other corners of the pass when you took [them with your stronger foot]?

I didn't even think about it that much. At some point I had it in it - and also felt more comfortable with the left foot.

In the previous summer preparation and in the test matches last, you were often used as a six-person or eighth. Why is that good for you?

You are near the ball all the time, can design the game and is always in the middle of the action. That's fun.

Among the boys, you were once trained as a six-woman or eighth. Did [anything stick with you]?

Something definitely. It’s been a long time, but I still have a few aspects like the pre-orientation and the importance of the first contact in mind. As an outside defender, you have the outside line as a boundary, but there is always something going on everywhere in the center. I have to get used to it again, but it's not completely new.

If we summarize now, you can play left back and right back, in the double six and as a ten on both sides in the Leverkusen 4-2-2-2. Wouldn’t it be beneficial to [play elsewhere]?

I see flexibility as a strength of mine. I like to get into new tasks - and by the way, I don't think I'll be going anywhere else next season. I will eventually get a position, and at which I will play frequently. There may be changes, but it will certainly not be exchanged wildly.

Do you expect to be planned in 2026/27, especially in the central midfield?

The coach (, d. Red.) hasn't spoken to me about it yet, but I think I'm going to play there more often, yes.

And where are you strongest? Where do you feel most comfortable?

I would continue to answer: as a right-back. On the position I can act with my strong right foot, help shape the offensive game and do many intense runs along the line. This is my game.

Where do you see your best chances in the national team? In the past few months, you played in the right back as a Giulia-Gwinn substitute, sometimes on the left back, but also sometimes on the right front.

I think you can put me almost anywhere and plan with me flexibly. I don't have a single position in my head.

What is the exchange with national coach Christian Wück?

He's a coach who communicates very clearly. He clearly says what's going well and what's going badly. You always know exactly where you are. I like that. I like it.

What does he ask of you?

Until now, I think he was quite happy with me. I'm supposed to keep going just like that, he said. But logically, there are different points that I should work on. So if, for example, I am too hectic and decide wrongly at the last pass into the depths, then of course he tells me that.

Are these exactly the areas in which you want to develop in the future?

Yes, but there is much more. My left foot can get even better, my first contact, the pre-orientation or my header game - there is a lot.

Next year, the World Cup will be held in Brazil. Is Germany the closest circle of title contenders?

How strong the teams from Africa, South and North America are, I honestly can not assess exactly. But when I look at Europe and I get to the games against Spain in the Nations League (0:0, 0:3, d. Red.) remember, then we're pretty close. If we bring our full potential - against the top teams, but also against the supposedly weaker opponents - then we count among the closest circle of favourites. But only then. Especially against the smaller countries we had problems again and again when we had to take over the game. That's part of the truth, too.

What was that about?

Sometimes the opponent may do something unexpected or just play well. Then we have to try to be even cleaner and more purposeful. From time to time we sat in the cabin and thought: What's going on here? What can we do better? Most of the time it was our basics, our passing game, our running trails. We will continue to work on that.

Bayer is currently working on reaching the 3 for the first time. Bundesliga place, which means admission for Champions League qualification. The club has invested, the squad is broadening. Would missing out on place 3 be a disappointment?

We have some new additions, we have to play first. Other teams have also increased and improved, not to forget that. But clearly, if we didn't make it, we would certainly be disappointed.

Is the chance of 3rd place just extremely favorable, because Frankfurt has to cope with a major upheaval?

Some teams had a major upheaval, including Frankfurt. It will depend on who can find themselves quickly and then act constantly. There is quite a lot in the river behind Bavaria right now. The chance of getting to a European place is therefore greater than ever before, I think.

They have come from Frankfurt in 2025 - and could have changed again this summer. FC Bayern made an offer, other clubs also asked. However, Leverkusen has so far referred to your contract, which runs until summer 2027. Did that cause you disappointment?

I was relatively relaxed. I had the attitude: I'll take it as it comes. I'm very happy here at Bayer 04, and we have big goals for the new season.

However, some requests were interesting for you.

That's right, yes.

Can you give the promise that you will definitely stay with Bayer this summer?

(considered) It looks like it. I'm staying in Leverkusen now.

And that would be okay for you?

Yes, I'm just as motivated as I was before.

"I definitely want to go to England," you said a few months ago. Do you still have that goal in mind?

Absolutely. Ever since I became a professional, I've wanted to go to England. The Women’s Super League is my dream league, I definitely want to play someday.

What makes the league so exciting?

The intensity there is very, very high. The technical class is enormous. In addition, the surroundings are bigger than in Germany.

Some of your colleagues from the DFB team and the Bundesliga have already gone abroad. How do you look at it?

I can understand very well that other players also want to go abroad. England, for example, are one step ahead of the Bundesliga. It's already blatant what's offered.

There has been a lot of speculation about you in the past few weeks. Does that concern you?

Not really. I hardly read anything anyway. And basically, I don't care what other people think or say about me. I'm going my way - and I need to know what I'm doing. That's the most important thing.

Even during the European Championships, when you became a shooting star, your mother gave you the tip not to read much. So that really works without any problems?

Yes, yes. Sometimes I see something by accident. But the most important thing is that you don't let anything get to yourself. When I read something, I know that it can't matter to me. It is also part of our job to deal with these things.

Her career has picked up tremendous momentum in recent months. Do you sometimes have to pinch yourself how fast it all went?

Absolutely. Sometimes, when I have time, I really think: [Cool], which I have already achieved. If someone had told me that 14, 15 months ago, when I was almost just sitting on the bench in Frankfurt, I would not have believed him. I never thought that it would go uphill so quickly - and is not so easy to process.

Which factors were decisive for this rapid rise?

It was very important for me that the then U-23 national coach Kathrin Peter used me for the first time in the right back. After that, it went up. I was invited by Christian, was suddenly a national player - and then also at the European Championships.

There's been a lot going on since then. Is that why your distance learning in sports science fell short?