Determined in the tackle and tireless in his efforts for the team, Jeff Chabot quickly blossomed into a key player following his move from 1. FC Köln in summer 2024. Before facing VfL Wolfsburg at home on Sunday 1 March (15:30 CET), the 28-year-old tells us about his experiences of playing abroad, his development and the upcoming clash with the Wolves.
Hello Jeff, the Bundesliga home match against Wolfsburg is part of this season’s ‘International Matchday’. The VfB squad is made up of players form 14 different countries – what effect does that diversity have on the spirit in the camp?
Jeff: “It’s good for the dressing room when a lot of different cultures come together. We have a very good, positive relationship with each other. I also find it interesting how everybody deals with certain situations differently. We have a lot of fun together, but we also know when we need to switch to concentration mode. That balance is important.”
As well as the Bundesliga, you’ve already played top-flight football in Italy and the Netherlands. How did you benefit from those spells abroad?
Jeff: “Looking back, they were very important years for me. I stepped out of my comfort zone and had to get by in a foreign country with a foreign language at a relatively young age – and I was pretty much on my own. I had to deal with situations on my own, because your family and friends can’t always be there for you. It helped me grow as a person. It was a very formative period for me.”
As a professional footballer, what did you learn from those countries?
Jeff: “I remember my first two or three weeks in Italy well. I thought I was learning how to defend from scratch. They were meticulous in every detail.”
VfB defender Jeff Chabot:
I’m very grateful and happy with how everything’s turned out.
And what was it like in the Netherlands?
Jeff: “The Dutch league is a superb platform for young players – and an excellent springboard to prove yourself to top-flight clubs in England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. In the Netherlands, you play at a high level and the football is technically refined. It’s an intermediate step I would definitely recommend to young players.”
You quickly shouldered plenty of responsibility at VfB and have been one of the standout performers since your debut season. How do you assess your development?
Jeff: “I’m very grateful and happy with how everything’s turned out. It’s brilliant to be playing European football for the second season in a row. There’s a lot of hunger in the team to achieve further success together. I want to do my bit to make that happen.”
You’re in good form in the Bundesliga and are currently in the top six in the table. What are the reasons behind your strong performances?
Jeff: “We’ve made another leap forward when it comes to the details. We’re showing more resilience and are managing to swing tight games in our favour. Everyone can rely on each other and it’s a pleasure to fight for points together on the pitch.”
You kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory at Wolfsburg earlier this season. What type of contest are you expecting this time?
Jeff: “Wolfsburg are a team with plenty of quality, who in my opinion are much better than their current position in the table suggests. We have to be very focused and resolute. Playing at home in front of our fans, we need to show from the outset that we want to win the game.”