30-year-old Mario Götze did everything right with the move from PSV Eindhoven to Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. The 2014 World Champion played an extremely strong first series and could also be a crucial piece of the puzzle for a return to the Champions League later in the season.
Götze mentioned: “I’m just trying to be a piece of the puzzle for the team, the coach and the overall construct. With my experience from the past few years, I want to help the team be successful. That’s in the last six months. I’m very happy with how it went.”
It is also unusual how fit Götze is at the age of 30, he completed the most intensive runs in the league (1307). “I feel good, I’m healthy, I can play every game, I train and I’ve found a good mix. That’s reflected in the numbers,” explains the veteran. The general feel-good factor should also contribute to his strong performance: “I feel super comfortable in the city, in the team, in the club, with the fans and with everything that’s growing here. That’s very positive – and you could see that on the field. The overall package was great, I’m very happy with how the last six months have gone.”
On the other hand, he looks back on the World Cup in Qatar with mixed feelings. “We don’t need to talk about sport, that was very disappointing for everyone. But being back in the national team and a World Cup after five years was very positive for me,” Götze recapitulated. However, he had hoped for a little more playing time, against Japan and Costa Ric. He only came in as a wild card in the final stages, against Spain he was out for 90 minutes.
“I would have liked to have played more,” says Götze
“I would have liked to have played more, especially knowing that you can’t play a World Cup every year,” says Götze. But he also knows: “After five years in which I wasn’t with the national team. Finding a certain role again wasn’t that easy from the start. We hardly had any preparation, a lot of factors came together. It was also for him. It’s not that easy for the national coach to find a well-rehearsed team that is on point. But for me personally it was good to be part of this group again.”
Resigning from the national team is not an issue for him. “If Hansi Flick calls me and asks, I’ll come,” explains the midfielder. He would like to appear at the EM 2024 in Germany: “Of course you have this goal, that’s the next big tournament. That would be super nice. But football is so fast-paced…” Götze has experienced many ups and downs in his career, he knows what he’s talking about. And how quickly praise can turn into criticism. “You have to deliver every week, every month, to be among the best players and go to the national team.”
