Video Archive: Mesut's First Interview At Age 17 On First Training With The Schalke A-Team.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

Video Archive: Mesut's First Interview At Age 17 On First Training With The Schalke A Team.

Translated by me, jenny_jenkins.


Question: Your first few days with the Schalke A-Team [Profis]! You were with the champion youth team and now you are with the grown-ups. What was it like?

Mesut: A very nice experience, to be German champions and it was nice and a very nice experience...

Question: You're a classic number 10 - behind the striker...

Mesut: Yes...

...a little magician, just like Lincoln (a Brazilian player at Schalke at the time). What's it like to train with him?

Mesut: It makes me happy because I can learn a lot from him. He's got strong technique and...so...yes...

Question: How do you see your chances? Have you got a plan for the next year or two? Will you be moving on this year or trying to get a starting place...what do you foresee?

Mesut: Well, I want to get into the starting 11 as fast as possible but I have time, I'm still young.

Question: When you look at it now, with the money,* how you used to train, how you became German champion - you were one of the best in your year among the youth-players - what happened to you? Was it luck?

Mesut: Yes it was huge luck. In the first team you train a little harder...and here they, um, play good football...you can learn a lot here and [forgets to breathe] and um...yes.

Question: You were born here in Gelsenkirchen. Was it always a dream to play here [Mesut nods] or is there a Turkish team you are pressing your thumbs for [Germans press their thumbs, they don't cross their fingers]?

Mesut: Turkish too but in Germany [struggles for a panicked breath] I've always been a fan of Schalke and having been born in Gelsenkirchen I'm happy to be a Profi here.

*****

While Mesut remains shy, we would have to agree he's improved as an interview subject!