Press Conferences, Team Events & Supporting the Ladies: Mesut & The National Team In Late May, 2011

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Press Conferences, Team Events 7 Supporting the DFB Women - Mesut With The National Team In May 2011

Mesut's May 20, 2011 Press Conference With the DFB

Bloody, Silly, Cute Promotional Stunts for the Women's World Cup

Training Notes for Austria

1. The Press Conference -

All translations in this post are by me, jenny_jenkins


Some highlights -

Mesut attended the press conference with Hansi Flick and Andre Schuerrle. Unusually for him, he seemed very relaxed, not particularly shy and quite unimpressed with his situation.

The others spoke first. Hansi Flick was asked to give an assessment of Mesut - the reporter waxing lyrical about how Mesut is the public's darling, how he is celebrated in the press as a German Mozart, how good his performances have been and how he is to be the number 10 next year - and to comment on how it is an interesting development for the National team to have a top player abroad.

Hansi replied that he had had the pleasure of going to Madrid three times to watch Mesut play during the season. He said he felt pride that the two players (the reporter had left out Sami Khedira, Hansi did not) had done so well in such a large club, and in such a difficult team. He was pleased that they had continued to develop and remarked on the phenomenol atmosphere. He also said that the public does indeed love and treasure Mesut - as does Mourinho - and that Sami too is admired for his technical strengths. The National team is thrilled and proud to have two players doing so brilliantly - even though it was not really expected to work out by so many people - but that they had created a furore.

Then it was Mesut's turn (with Toni Kroos) to speak. As always, Mesut dealt with every question as economically as possible.

Harald Stenger (the DFB's communications director) asked Mesut to comment on the past season (Stenger usually asks the first questions before allowing the reporters to jump in). Mesut said he had made the switch, he was happy with his year, he had gained the trust of the coach and he had won a title with the team - his reason for going, of course - to win titles and improve. He also pointed out that they were second in the league and had "gone a long way" in the Champions League and that next year they intend to do better. He was also pleased with the National team's progress - unbeaten in qualification. He tactfully spoke about Austria, pointing out that they are playing with nothing to lose and that they are a good team.

Stenger also asked him to comment on the Champions League final (likely anticipating that journalists would want to ask this question and pre-empting it to allow Mesut to get the answer out of the way) commenting that "what Barca is doing at the moment is really quite special, isn't it?"

Mesut replied that the team (Real Madrid) had been unlucky - having to play Barca 4 times - a team of great strength that has played together for quite a while. He also said that watching the Champions League final one could see that they were "clearly the better team." Real Madrid was disappointed he said, but the team had also shown that they could beat Barca and that they intend to manage it next season.

Later in the press conference Mesut was asked about Jose Mourinho "about whom one reads a thousand things, hears a thousand things - most of it negative" (Mesut began smiling even as this question was asked). What is he actually like?

Mesut responded: "I work with him day in, day out, and he is a super person, a super coach, with whom I enjoy working. Personally too he's a very nice person who supports everyone - and I am just glad to be able to work under him."





The next question: "Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop are soon going to be there with you - I can see the smile on your face! (Mesut had smiled as their names were mentioned) - how much German will now be spoken at Madrid? Or Turkish? It must be a very nice thing for you!

Mesut responded: "Of course I am happy they are coming to us and I used to play with Hamit Altintop at Schalke. As for what language we'll speak - perhaps some German, some Turkish, some Spanish - we'll have to see.

Mesut was next asked to comment on Sami Khedira and his string of injuries - is there a conflict, the journalist wanted to know, between club and country?

Mesut evaded the question by responding that "der Sami" is a professional who always wants to be fit and does everything for that and always makes a 100% effort in training. And "we'll be glad to have him back with us."

What is Mesut's impression of the desire within the National team to win a title? Mesut's response: "Naturally we want to win titles. We are one of the favourites in the competition, we are on a good path, undefeated in qualification, and we have shown at the World Cup that we can play well against the big teams."

He was next asked to describe what his life in Madrid looked like - and could he speak Spanish as well as Sami Khedira?

Mesut: "I understand nearly everything, but talking is of course difficult. Nevertheless I'm getting on. As for my life - usually we train at 11 o'clock. So I go to training at 11 o'clock, and I train and then I go home, learn the language (take Spanish lessons). Usually my friends and family visit me and we do things together."

Mesut was next asked to comment on the disaster of a midfield that he left behind at half-time after being switched off against Uruguay for Miroslav Klose - the reporter noting that he had been the best player of the first half. Do games now hinge on him? Is he indispensable?

Mesut sighed audibly before responding tactfully that he enjoyed playing a great deal and that he thought the team had done very well and had some good chances on goal which they "unfortunately" didn't manage to convert.

And finally he was asked which striker he prefers to play with. Mesut, as usual, didn't fall for it - they are both world class, he said, and he enjoys playing with both.



Mesut with Toni Kroos before entering the press room.


Video Here



2. Team Bonding

The National Team had spent the morning doing their usual team-bonding events - most of which mysteriously seem to involve one of the team's more important sponsors! Last time, Mercedes Benz - this time, Lufthansa. As usual, sponsored refreshment was prominently displayed on the tables. Mesut looked...a little bored actually.





The lads spent some time in a flight simulator. Friend Thomas Mueller was apparently the one player who could both fly and safely land the "aeroplane". Pictures of Mesut inside the flight-simulator are not yet forthcoming, and he left early to make his press-conference.



3. Austrian Fan-girling





The wet fellow doing the thumbs up in this picture is Christian Fuchs of the Austrian National team who plays, for the moment, in the Bundesliga. Asked by the German press about his impression of Germany's National team he spoke of their self-confidence and the depth of their squad. Special words were reserved for Mesut Özil however -

"Mesut Özil ist auf seiner Position über alle anderen zu stellen" - "Mesut Özil can be reckoned above all others in his position."

Add him to the list of those who have said lovely things about Mesut!


4. A Bloody Silly, Adorable Promotional Stunt, Courtesy of the DFB


For reasons passing understanding, it was decided that Mesut would switch shirt numbers from 8 to 11 yesterday.





And no - it wasn't because Miroslav Klose is retiring.


Cue the second-hand-embarrassment! (And keep an eye out for our favourite woman, Lira Bajramaj)

Well, there is a long list of things no one will ever accuse the German lads of after this - a lack of political correctness, for example, acting skill, zeal in promoting their women teammates - you name it.  Indeed, no one will ever accuse the DFB of not being the most politically correct sporting organization on earth. For a similarly adorable/painful/hilarious (if somewhat Mesut-less and Beckenbauer-full) viewing experience, Click Here.




Nice work boys!


5. National Team Training Pictures.

DFB photographers have been at it again, capturing all sorts of tender moments.





Mesut has been seen (above) hanging out with the meanest goalkeeper on earth Tim "the-midfield-in-front-of-my-goal-is-crap-ever-since-Mesut Ozil-left-Bremen-and-Aaron-Hunt-isn't cutting-it" Wiese. Mesut seems to be, from the masses of photographic evidence available, the only person on earth who can ever get him to smile.

Also - best friend on the team (not currently at Madrid) Lukas Podolski - with whom he has a well documented bromance -





Best friend on any team at all, Sami Khedira (who completed his first full training after injury yesterday!) -





And finally, everyone's favourite National team coach, Joachim Loew -





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