crinkly_ears | Pre-season Continued: The Great LJ Crash of 2011 - Mesut in Berlin And Much, Much More! (Reply)

While Live Journal was being hacked, Mesut was keeping busy – So Put The Kettle On Darlings.
This Post Covers Five Days of Insane Activity.

Joyous Bromantic News! Press Conferences – From Every Angle!
Mesut in Germany! Facebook Updates! Another Fully Translated Interview! Random Embarassment!
Hertha Berlin 1 Real Madrid 3 – The Match Report!
Fully Translated Post-Match News and Interviews!
The sashatwen Interrogation Corner!
You Name It - It’s all here...At Enormous Length...
(Originally Posted July 28, 2011)

The Return Home

Real Madrid made it home on the weekend after two strenuous weeks in the United States and 3 wins in 3 games in their first pre-season games. Mesut shone in all three games, assisted once, scored a goal, and wore the number 10 jersey so many of his fans hoped he’d be getting.

Mesut in the United States - Where He Was Really Quite Brilliant.

It was so lovely to see the boys back in Madrid and back at training in Valdebebas!

So Many Gorgeous Boys Leaping About!

Which brings us to -

Joyous Bromantic News

One of the loveliest things of the past few days was photographic evidence during the practice sessions that friend Sami Khedira’s foot injury was not as serious as was first reported (Marca speculating that the injury would require a few months off rather than just a few days). Sami returned to practice. As always, anywhere Sami went, Mesut was sure to be nearby.

And they looked thrilled to be back together again, at any rate.

Mesut’s Press Conference -

After practice on Tuesday, Mesut gave an interview at Valdebebas. He looked as wide-eyed and faintly terrorized as he always does when there’s a camera in front of him.

He insisted on answering in German, even though during the course of the interview he said that his Spanish is improving – he just can’t speak it perfectly yet (typical bloody German perfectionist!).

The interview was covered extensively and by several different news organizations. In it, Mesut said that he and Kaka get along really well and that Kaka is an important player with a great deal of potential. He said he didn’t want to talk about the number 10 jersey.

He also said that Real Madrid has matured and is an improved team and that they hope to win titles. How the interview was covered determined what portion of the interview was emphasized by the media.

This version, for example, focuses on Kaka’s supposedly less than stellar performances in the US, which Mesut was asked to comment on (which was rather cruel of the journalists actually, toward Mesut in particular) but about which he was typically level-headed and diplomatic.

There are several other versions online – and in Spanish too.

Mesut in Germany

Mesut had scarcely finished charming the media when it was time for Real Madrid to make its second pre-season trip – this time home to Germany.

Real Madrid travelled on the day, and were filmed arriving at the airport. Let’s play “spot the player” shall we –

Meanwhile, the photographers were there too. Here’s Mesut arriving at the hotel, looking about as prepossessing as he usually does on these occasions –

Earphones – check.
An air of faint harassment – check.
Hideous baseball cap – check.

Mesut was among those chosen to sign autographs (unsurprisingly) at the team’s hotel. For reasons passing understanding, he kept his ball-cap on throughout. He also stuck as close to Sami Khedira as possible!

The fans looked pleased as anything to meet him and his teammates –

And the video cameras were there too! Mesut looked rather shy (perhaps his ball-cap isn’t so inexplicable when one views it as a security blanket) and rather long-haired. Perhaps his little sister needs to get at him with some scissors again? Jenny would say yes – get the boy while he’s sleeping!

The Real Madrid website milked the German connection for everything it was worth. Mesut and Sami featured together in the banner-headline reminding visitors to the website of the time of the match.

And they made up this very pretty little feature about our favourite boy and our favourite of his fellow-club-and-international-teammates to remind any Germans who haven't been paying attention that two of their Internationals would be in the country!

Facebook Notes

Mesut’s Facebook -

Mesut took time out in all this kerfuffle to update his Facebook page with the following picture of the fellow he is now sitting next to in the locker room. Apparently they are still getting along and Benzema has not yet begun hogging all the space on the bench, leaving his cleats lying around, failing to put his socks in the hamper – or whatever it is that footballers do when they drive each other crazy over shared bench-space (all those things you can be sure Sami-the-perfectionist probably didn’t do!).

They look rather sweet together don’t they?

Beneath, the following was noted:

Hallo Leute, hier ein Foto aus dem Trainingslager in L.A. Jetzt bin ich erstmal wieder froh in Spanien zu sein und am Mittwoch spielen wir gegen Hertha BSC. Gruß Mesut

Hello people, here’s a photo from the training camp in L.A. Now I am happy to be back in Spain and this Wednesday we play against Hertha Berlin. Yours, Mesut

Iker Casillas’s Facebook -

Meanwhile, Mesut FINALLY made his debut on Iker Casillas’s Facebook page, Iker very properly marking the occasion of the trip to Germany by having a photograph taken with Mesut.

For God's Sake Iker - Buy a Better Camera!

It came with the following observation:

De camino a Berlín para disputar otro partido de pretemporada. A mis compañeros alemanes le hace ilusión jugar este partido.

I’m on my way to Berlin for the next preseason match. My fellow-German teammates and I are looking forward to the game.

Mesut also, possibly, helped Iker with the caption for the photograph -

"Gegenüber deutschem Boden!” - though perhaps it was Google translate?

Well, that was nice, wasn’t it? More Iker – we want much, much more!

Moving right along -

A Lovely and Affectionate Pre-Match Interview With An Old Colleague

The German press understandably took a great deal of interest in the game, not only because Mesut and Sami Khedira, two much adored National Team players, would be there, but because a couple of old colleagues who had played with Mesut during his days at Schalke would be starring opposite him.

The newspapers wasted no time catching up with one of them – Levan Kobiashvili.

The Berlin Morning Post entitled its story leading up to the match "Kobiashvili is the Ozil-Expert at Hertha" and quoted the player, who defends at left-back, at some length.

Here is the interview, translated in full –

Ex-Schalker Kobiashvili is the Özil-Expert At Hertha
Wednesday, 27. Juli 2011 10:59
LINK TO THE GERMAN
Fully translated by me, Jenny Jenkins.

At Schalke 04, Levan Kobiashvili recognized at once the sort of talent Mesut Ozil had. In an interview with Morgenpost Online, the Hertha Berlin defender speaks about his experienecs with the Superstar from Real Madrid.

The highly delectable and charming ex-Schalker Levan Kobiashvili.

Morgen Post: Mr Kobiashvili. When Mesut Ozil arrived at Schalke as a professional footballer you were already a veteran. Can you still remember your first meeting.

Kobiashvili: Absolutely. He came up from the youth-ranks and was very talented. You could see from day one that he would be a great footballer.

Morgen Post: Mr Kobiashvili, let’s be honest – doesn’t everyone who knew a very prominent player when he was younger say things like that about their old colleague?

Kobiashvili: In this case I have to say, it is just true. He was always dribbling. He was a huge problem even then – getting past two players. I thought even then: it’s a lot of fun to watch Mesut on the ball, how he handles the ball – whether in practice or during a game.

Morgen Post: Today your will be face to face with your former apprentice. You are in the autumn of your football career. Ozil plays with one of the world’s most prestigious clubs. What are your thoughts?

Kobiashvili: It makes me happy that he has taken such a large step and has such a wonderful career ahead of him. I am convinced that German fans will be amazed at this player over the coming years.

Morgen Post: Did you come to know him as a person?

Kobiashvili: Yes, I always had contact with him. That happened because I usually shared a room with Hamit Altintop and the two of them were always together. I also came to know him on the field. He was a nice boy. Every footballer knows what he can do. But as a person, Mesut has always been very grounded.

O_Ozilers will be happy to remember that Hamit Altintop has now joined Mesut at Real Madrid.

A Random Embarrassing Moment

The Hertha Berlin photographers showed all the class and artistic sensitivity that we are used to seeing from Real Madrid’s photographers. They persuaded a terrorized looking Mesut, a bemused Mourinho, an impeccably hair-gelled Cristiano Ronaldo, and a shocked looking Iker Casillas with the city's mascot in an obvious ritual of humiliation that they hoped would turn the match in Hertha Berlin’s favour.

Shortly after these horrifying photographs were taken, the game was on!

Match Report

The stadium, Berlin’s Olympia Stadion, was entirely sold out and seemed rather boisterous. Hertha Berlin was relegated two seasons ago (those of us who follow the Bundesliga will remember the city-centre riots that occurred after it happened) and this friendly marks Berlin’s return to the first division after successfully finishing top of the second division and getting back out of relegation.

And as it happens, the game unfolded rather as expected. Madrid were tired and jetlagged and a defensive error allowed Hertha Berlin to take the lead. As the game went on however, the chasm in talent and class between the two teams showed itself and Madrid scored twice before the break and once more afterwards.

Mesut, who started the match, was closely marked – very closely marked at all times and rarely found himself in space. As other teams have discovered however, this simply results in his teammates finding themselves in space – and scoring. Benzema managed it twice. Crispy Ronaldo also scored Real Madrid’s first off a beautifully taken free kick. Friend Sami Khedira covered himself in glory by assisting the third goal (Benzema’s second) within two minutes of being substituted on at the start of the second half.

As always, much cuddling and happiness resulted!

And we got a glimpse of footballing numbers heaven - a 9, a 10 and a 6 all standing together!

During the game, Mesut remembered his fans and flashed us his tummy -

- which really ought to be obligatory!

Mesut was substituted off, with Benzema, in the 80th minute to a handshake from Mourinho and some affectionate cuddling from the coaching staff.

He then sat around and effortlessly scored a 10.o on the Mesut-Metre of ado.orablness (tm) by sitting around on the bench, looking earnest and fiddling with his hair -

Of particular note were the English commentators, who were delighted with him. They observed the change in jersey number and noted that “he really deserves it” and listed some of the wonderful players who have won the 10 – Figo, Netzer, Puskas, and Zidane (Zidane, as it happens, didn’t wear the 10 – he wore the number 5, but the sentiment is appreciated!) and commented on his brilliant first season.

As Mesut was to note after the game (full interview below) “Berlin gave [Madrid] some trouble” – most especially when they took the lead shortly after the game began. As noted above however, Benzema and Crispy more than salvaged the goal-line and Madrid deservedly won the game after dominating for most of the match.

The German press verdicts were unanimous: even the euphoria about the step back up into the first league wasn’t enough to get Berlin over an exhausted and jetlagged Real Madrid.

This win makes it 4/4 for friendly wins this preseason thus far.

Post Match Interview

One wonderful thing about games playing in Germany is that you can count on the sports media to get a hold of Mesut and force him to give interviews following the match – just as they do after important Champions League encounters!

So here we have sexy-bug-eyed-boy on camera – looking very earnest and sweet - and sounding as single-minded as ever –

Fully translated by me, Jenny Jenkins

Interviewer: Another who played well was Mesut Ozil, who is here with us. Welcome, Mr Ozil – great atmosphere, watchable game, was it fun for you too?

Mesut: Absolutely (looking around the stadium). I think the stadium was sold-out, it was a good atmosphere. (Hertha) Berlin made a good effort and made life difficult for us but I think in the end we deserved our win.

Interviewer: I think you can say that. We were a little surprised, to be frank – you have three and a half weeks until the season begins and yet the team is very much on its way. It seemed very strong, very aware and extremely fit. What percentage did Real give us today?

Mesut: I think 80%. We train very intensively. You can see that we run very hard. We will continue to make an effort until we are at 100% and we’re looking forward to it.

Interviewer: How important is it when you play for Real to win a friendly – even one like this?

Mesut: Very important, of course. We want to win every game and it was important to win today – to continue developing. Now we’ll fly to England on Friday and we want to win that game too... (Mesut shrugs almost apologetically).

Interviewer: It really is a crazy schedule you’ve got there with Real Madrid. You were for two weeks in the United States then you came back to Madrid. This morning briefly to Berlin. Tonight back in Madrid. You then fly to England. Then back to Madrid. Then off to China. That sounds rather strenuous.

Mesut: Definitely – above everything else the time difference – it makes you really sleepy. But we are coping, we’re happy about it and most importantly – as I said before – we want to 100% fit so that we’ll win lots of titles.

Interviewer: Tell us very briefly – what is the first goal you have this season – to defeat Barca in the championship or in the champions league.

Mesut: We don’t discuss Barcelona. We look to ourselves. Our goal is to win everything because we have the potential and we’ll do everything for that. (Very diplomatic Mesut - Are you watching Xavi??)

Interviewer: Thank you Mesut Ozil!

Mesut: Goodbye.

The sashatwen Interrogation Corner

sashatwen, our beloved reader, commentator, author of the best post ever, and translation critic was at the match – and had extremely good seats – what a ~~cow horrible thing despicable~~ lucky girl!

Naturally, we have questions don’t we?

1. Is Mesut as slight and adorable as he looks on television? As fast? As clever? As elegant?
2. Is Sami really as big, and strong and handsome as he looks on television? As brave? As fast? A regular knight in white-jersey-armour? What are his legs like in motion?
3. Tender moments between our favourite boys? Anything at all? We want details!
4. Was Sami Khedira’s assist for Benzi and the subsequent cuddle between him, Benzi and Mesut (who was just so pleased for the pair of them from where I was sitting many thousands of miles away behind my computer screen!) a highlight of your life? Could you feel the love? Did it overwhelm you? And most importantly -
5. Where are your pictures and when and where are you posting them?

Well, I hope you enjoyed yourself Sasha my darling. Have yourself a tender Samisut moment –

And rest assured, I don’t REALLY hate you, you lucky, hateful thing! ~~(Well, not too much anyway).~~

__________________________

Well that’s everything my dears. Feel free to tell me you know how many hours it took to put this together and that I’m spectacular and so on...

Many thanks to andriy_7 for the impeccable photographic research.