Mio Backhaus and Keke Topp spent three years together in SV Werder Bremen’s academy. After they went their separate ways in club football, the pair shared a room together whilst playing for Germany’s youth teams. Backhaus and Topp are now back together at SVW and spoke to WERDER.de about their journeys, the training camp and the strengths of one another.
WERDER.DE: During Keke’s first interview back at the club, he said that you’ll be conceding a lot more goals in training now, Mio. Was that true?
Mio Backhaus: Not so far, no (laughs). We’ve still got a few training sessions ahead of us though.
Keke Topp: In my defence, we’ve not actually played against each other yet. We’ve always been on the same team so far.
Mio Backhaus: That’s true, that’s why we’ve always won in training (laughs).
WERDER.DE: You played together for three years in Werder’s academy and were part of the U15s side that were champions. Did you ever think back then that you’d be together at a training camp for the first team?
Keke Topp: That’s a tough one. I didn’t really think about whether I’d make it back then. I only really started having those thoughts when I was playing U19 football. I think we can be a bit arrogant and say that Mio and I were among the best players in our positions at our age group.
Mio Backhaus: I thought about it for myself, but not for anyone else (laughs). If I’d had to have picked who would become a professional footballer among us, then I’d have gone for Keke and Ricardo Schwarz. We had a really strong team back then and I did believe a couple of us could make it. The fact that us two are sat here nice is really nice.
It wasn’t an easy year, but perhaps the best possible experience I could have had.Mio Backhaus
WERDER.DE: You have both spent time at other clubs recently. Why was this step so important for your respective careers?
Mio Backhaus: The most important thing was to get match practice at the level I did. The Eredivisie is a completely different standard to the U19 Bundesliga or the Regionalliga here. The whole package of that year on loan, where not everything went well, did me the world of good. I was able to make the best of it. It wasn’t easy, but perhaps the best possible experience I could have had.
Keke Topp: I wanted to play under Norbert Elgert (Schalke 04’s U19 coach), who has successfully guided so many footballers into the professional game. It was important for me to show what I’m capable of somewhere else, to see new things and to grow up a bit more too.
WERDER.DE: You are both now back in Bremen and want to continue your development. What are your goals for the 2024/25 season?
Keke Topp: I want to be as successful as possible. I naturally want to play as much as I can and score goals and get some assists too. However, the most important thing is that we’re successful as a team.
Mio Backhaus: Things can happen quickly in football and as a goalkeeper you can suddenly get your chance, so I just want to make sure I’m always ready. I want to give my all in every training session, impress and give the team something off the pitch too. Having a good year personally at the first-team level has really helped me.
WERDER.DE: We’ve been in Zillertal for a training camp since Wednesday. How have the first few days been for you?
Keke Topp: Training camps are meant to be tiring. I still feel good – maybe because I’m so young I can cope with it better than others (laughs). I’m looking forward to the remaining days and to getting to know the lads even better. Zillertal is beautiful and the area here is lovely.
Mio Backhaus: They’ve been really tiring. We’ve worked extremely hard with Kiki (Christian Vander). The standard is a bit higher for me, so it’s obviously challenging. But as Keke said, we’re still young so I’ve recovered again by the next day.
WERDER.DE: Although you play in totally different positions, you still know each other better on the pitch than anyone else in the team. Mio, what is Keke’s biggest strength?
Mio Backhaus: Holding the ball up or his finishing. He has everything a striker needs. I’m confident that he’ll score a few goals this season.
WERDER.DE: And what are his strengths, Keke?
Keke Topp: Mio is a modern goalkeeper, it’s like having an outfielder in goal, but he’s still fantastic at making saves too. He’s got it all.
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— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) July 19, 2024
