Mesut Ozil has admitted that he won’t make a decision on his future until the summer (again) reiterating that getting Arsenal in to the Champions League is the biggest priority at the minute.
In a long interview with Sport1, the German also spoke about how happy he is with Arsenal, how he felt comfortable from the first day, and much more.
“The time in London I see so far backward, very positive, but my personal situation is unimportant at the moment,” Ozil said.
“What is crucial is that we focus on the upcoming games and bring the season to a successful end.
“As I said before, the qualification for the Champions League has top priority. Only then will we get together and talk about my personal future.”
Full transcript below [via Google Translate]:
SPORT1: Mr Özil, you cannot be satisfied with sixth place for your club, right?
Mesut Özil: Of course, sixth place does not look good. However, we have two games in our hands to make a leap forward. It is definitely our goal to play again in the Champions League in the coming year , and for this goal we all work very hard. In the final season of the season, we want to bring together all the forces and start a series, because the qualification for the royal class is definitely still in it.
SPORT1: Your ex-club Real Madrid is in the royal class in the semi-final. Right?
Özil: I think this quarter-final was absolute advertising for football with two teams at eye level. Nevertheless, Real is right for me in the semi-finals. If you look at both games, Real had advantages. Clearly there were controversial scenes in the return, but this is the case in football. At this level, little things make the difference. And, of course, exceptional players like Cristiano Ronaldo. To score five goals in two games against Bayern, this is an incredible achievement.
SPORT1: They’ve been playing Arsenal for more than three years now. Would you have thought that it would be the club where you have played the longest?
Özil: I had a good feeling from the first day on Arsenal and that did not deceive me either. I’ve been here for almost four years now and still feel comfortable all around. Arsenal is a great, proud club and the fans are also. The fans deserve to have their club back on top.
SPORT1: Arsenal is planning a major upheaval. China wanted to lure you last year with huge sums. Now it is said that you are to be sold. How do you see your situation at the Gunners?
Ozil: The time in London I see so far backward, very positive, but my personal situation is unimportant at the moment. What is crucial is that we focus on the upcoming games and bring the season to a successful end. As I said before, the qualification for the Champions League has top priority. Only then will we get together and talk about my personal future.
SPORT1: Why did this fit right from the start with you and Arsenal, or were there any right hangers?
Özil: At Arsenal, everything has been right from the start. Even before I went to Real, I was in contact with Arsene Wenger. By the time Arsenal was my first choice, I finally had the chance. Wenger explained to me exactly how he would use me. Besides, I’ve heard a lot from Arsenal about Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker.
SPORT1: How did you change England during the three years? As a footballer and as a person?
Özil: I’ve learned a lot about my game. The Premier League is a league where you do not get much more with talent. The way of playing is much more toned and I think I can adapt quite well. But I also developed as a person, I believe. I am now 28 and want to support my young players with my experiences. At Schalke, Bremen or Real I was one of the younger ones in the team. Here a large part of the expectation pressure also weighs on me. But now I can handle it well. This is what grows.
SPORT1: How do you rate the English league and especially the situation of Arsenal in the fight against deep-pocketed ManUnited and Manchester City ?
Özil: Nowhere else is there so many teams that can win the championship. It is even possible that even smaller teams such as Leicester last year are at the top. This is not the second time in Europe, so the competition between the teams is so hard. One must never lean back.
SPORT1: How do you see the Premier League in comparison to the Primera Division, Serie A and Bundesliga ?
Özil: I’ve never played in Italy, but the English league stands out, especially in the run. One must physically be here still fitter, in order to stand here. For me, it was also a change, that there is no winter break.
SPORT1: What do you say to critics who have repeatedly denounced you leadership in the past, and that you were going to dive too often?
Özil: I’m not trying to get this kind of thing to me anymore. For me, the opinion of the team of coaches is important, not the opinion of some experts. However, one should say that in the DFB -Elf has been a change for years. This one leader is no longer there. This team has won the World Cup title in Brazil only because it has worked as a team. The idea of the one outstanding player is overtaken and unnecessary in this team with so many fantastic footballers.
SPORT1: Were not you too often introverted?
Özil: Introvert is perhaps the wrong word. I’m sure no speakers on the court. I do not know who is calling me. When I have things to say, I speak clearly, but not in the public, but internally.
SPORT1: Where do you look in your career, what will be the next big step?
Özil: In addition to the world title, my big dream one day is to win the Champions League. Even as a small boy, I dreamed of holding the cup in my hands. I want to fulfill this dream in my career. But I know how hard it is. But as a footballer without dreams, you will never be successful.
SPORT1: About dreams: your dream of a fashion collection you have just realised yourself
Özil: Yes, that was really fun. I wanted to design a small collection for my most loyal fans. Only shirts and caps in different designs. But everything is limited. My team and I have built a web shop for this; We started last week. Within an hour everything was sold out. But there is soon a second limited collection.