Özil at AS
Mesut Özil was recently interviewed by AS, and this is the result. The interviewer starts off by saying it takes a bit of an effort to get a smile out of Mesut, as well as to hear what he’s saying. But in case you think he’s shy, he says he’s not, that he’s just a reserved person. A bit like Zidane, in fact.
Here are the fun (personal) parts of the interview. I really want to know more about the music in the locker room!
(I guess there’s only one backdrop for interview pictures, no?)
Q: You grew up admiring Zidane. What did you like most about him?
A: The ease with which he handled the ball, his agility, how dangerous he was in front of the goal. He was a complete player, as cold as ice. I admired that a lot.
Q: Which games that Zidane played in do you remember?
A: Of course, the final in Glasgow with that goal against Leverkusen. It was a world-class goal. I dream of scoring a goal like that, although the important thing is to play in the final and win it. It won’t matter who scores the goals later on.
Q: How do you communicate with your teammates?
A: Sometimes in English, sometime a bit in Spanish. I understand a bit and there’s an assistant coach, José Morais, who translates things for me at times.
Q: How many days a week do you study Spanish?
A: Two or three, depending on if there’s Champions League games.
Q: Do you think that Cristiano is an individualist?
A: No way, he’s a team player. You could see that in the second goal against Espanyol, when he gave a great pass to Higuaín. We’re happy to be able to count on a world-class player like him on our team. He’s very important for us.
Q: Who on the team has surprised you with his quality?
A: (Thinks). There are a lot. I don’t want to leave anyone out. They’ve received me with open arms and I feel like we’re a family.
Q: We want to get to know you as a person. What did your grandparents do when they came to Germany from Turkey?
A: My grandfather worked in a metals mine. But I don’t like to talk about my family because I prefer to keep them in the background.
Q: But your father was someone important for you in your career?
A: Of course, he’s always been at my side, even now. I’m very grateful to my family and friends.
Q: Is it true that he was always on the sidelines giving you instructions in Turkish, which caused confusion?
A: No, no. When I was a kid and didn’t play well, he would point that out, even when other parents told me that I had played well. He was always sincere with me, and that helped me to learn a lot of things.
Q: What is the best piece of advice he’s given you?
A: To believe in myself. I’m a very religious person. I pray before games and that helps me.
Q: What do your parents do?
A: My father was self-employed and my mother a housewife.
Q: Have they come with you to Madrid?
A: No.
Q: Did you feel different growing up in Germany because of your Turkish origins?
A: Never. I’ve never felt hostility. I always had a lot of friends and I still have the same friends.
Q: Did you think your childhood was difficult economically speaking?
A: My childhood was great. I enjoyed it a lot. My family gave me everything I needed.
Q: What did you do with your first big paycheck?
A: It was in Schalke, I got my driver’s license and I bought a car, and I started helping out my family.
Q: Do you consider yourself a shy person?
A: No, but I am reserved. I’m a calm person, but when I’m around my friends I joke around and I could talk a lot.
Q: What do you like about Madrid?
A: I usually stay at home. I was surprised by how nice the people are and how many things there are to do.
Q: What is your biggest defect?
A: I don’t know. I enjoy my life and I’m grateful for what I have. I’m a happy person and I have everything, thanks to God.
Q: Have you been able to play any of your rap songs in the locker room?
A: Some players already heard them before. It was an idea from Nike, who sponsors me. Jan Delay is very well-known in Germany.
Q: What songs do you like the best out of the ones played?
A: I like hip hop, redmanblues [rhythm and blues?].
my current obsession!
he has really grown on me…at first i thought he was so weird looking, but now he looks better and better becoming attractive!
I don’t know if i believe he’s not shy, haha, he looks pretty shy to me.
Thanks for the translation as always!
I don’t think I’d go as far as calling him attractive, but he’s definitely grown on me too…
He looks (deceptively) fragile!
Thanks for the translation, as always! He says he doesn’t like to talk about his family but AS still asks about his family and he still answers… haha.
Someone commented on the AS website that they might have not understood the last answer of Ozil. That he might’ve said “rhythm and blues” instead of “redmanblues” LOL! I think that makes sense. 😀
Ok, I’ll put a note in.
Do you happen to know what language they interview him in? If it’s Spanish I think that’s incredible!
I think they probably had a translator, just like during the press conferences.
that makes sense, thanks!