Crinkly Ears

Link to the German

The playmaker has matured into a world class footballer in Madrid, the Spaniards consider him the leader of Germany’s passing game. Undeterred, he goes his way – unless a colleague clowns around.

Nearly 100,000 in the stands of a Spanish top club? It’s been a while since it made him nervous. Millions watching on television? It motivates. Paparazzi follow him around shopping? It’s part of the job. Marco Reus sits two metres next to him? It’s distracting for Mesut Özil.

The Germany and Real Madrid playmaker sits on Sunday afternoon at the podium in the adidas centre and talks about Tuesday. Before the game against Kazakhstan he’ll be honoured by the DFB: the votes of 50,000 fans of the federation have chosen the 24 year-old as player of the year.
( More From Mesut's Press Conference... )
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Appearances - Stats & Statistics

Mesut has overtaken Bodo Illgner (1996-2001; 2 Championships, 2 Champions Leagues) as the German with the second-highest number of official appearances with Real Madrid at 119 against Zaragoza! Some of you will remember that it was because of his shoulder injury that Iker Casillas became Madrid's #1.

To get to #1 he has to overtake Uli Stielike (1977-1985; 3 championships, 1 UEFA cup) - crinkly_ears is rooting for you darling!



For Germany fans: Uli Stielike was a runner-up in '82 and won the 1980 Euros with Germany. Bodo Illgner won the World Cup in 1990 with the only clean-sheet in World Cup history. I am sure these are goals we all hope the boy with the upside-down-ears will manage with Germany!

Illgner is an affectionate observer of the Mesuty phenomenon and was even asked about him this past hour in Sport1's write-up of Mesut's press-conference (more on that below). Even before he became a presenter (next to Ray Hudson) on Bein sport, he was often asked to comment on Mesut at Madrid by the German press. His verdict: Mesut's on-the-pitch personality could use some work (he should be more demanding of his teammates, particularly at Madrid), but he's a stout admirer of the boy on the pitch and "not just because I'm German" as he told Phil Shoen during the commentary done for the last clasico. He also laughed, suitably loudly, when Ray Hudson said: "I don't think May'sooht knows how to foul..."

( More Mesuty Goodness + Press Conference... )

(Originally posted in the old o_ozil community on March 23, 2011)

I've had several requests to re-post this press-conference translation after Mesut pointedly declined to discuss life in Madrid in his last press-conference. This post contains the translation of his press-conference given on March 23 (Oliver Bierhoff also attended). The Youtube video of Mesut's portion of the press conference has been taken down.

It was an unusually charming press-conference - with the press-pack behaving like fan-boys ("How much time do you spend with Sami Khedira!")

Following the press conference are the press reviews - which were many but not varied! The press was charmed beyond words by Mesut's shyness and the critical reaction was amusing!

Love to ext_1127286 for reminding me to post it!




( Happy Reading... )
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Karim Benzema injured for the big game tomorrow, ditto for Lukas Podolski - that means there's no one to cling to Mesut's side making sad puppy-dog eyes this week or to openly and aggressively nibble on his ears!




Sami, at any rate, seems entirely content with this state of affairs! Quite frankly, he looks like the cat that got the cream!


( Read more... )


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Normally, of course, one would place a post-match interview at the end of a match-spam, but Mesut's performance should get "top-billing" for doing such a nice job! And really, his shyness is so very charming - he looks and behaves precisely as he does when interviewed in German.



( Read more... )
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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)

( Enter at your own risk and bring a snack... ) 
 
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1. The Press Conference -

All translations in this post are by me, jenny_jenkins

( Plenty of good-looking guys beneath... )