It’s almost exactly a year ago since Julian Draxler scored the first goal for Germany in a 2-0 win against Northern Ireland. Since then, a lot has happened. In January, the 24-year-old moved to Paris Saint-Germain. In the summer, Julian wore the captain’s armband during Germany’s successful Confederations Cup victory. After the first training session with the squad, Julian Draxler answered questions on the following.
Question: It’s time to take the final step into qualifying. What do you need to do on the pitch to qualify for the World Cup in Belfast?
Julian Draxler: I believe that it will be a tough game that won’t be especially pleasing on the eye like the first game in Hannover. Northern Ireland can defend well and we will definitely need to put in a very good performance to take anything from the game. We have to play at a high tempo and try to create chances so we can get an early lead. If we do that, I’m confident that we can qualify ahead of time.
Question: In the Champions League win against Bayern, you only featured briefly but then played very well in the win in the league. How are you in terms of fitness?
Draxler: I am fit and feeling good. After the Confed Cup, I needed a bit longer than some others in the PSG squad to get back to full fitness but now I’m feeling fine. I’ve started in the last four league games.
Question: Is it fun playing in a team such as Paris Saint-Germain with a team full of such great players?
Draxler: It’s no different to the national team when you look at the squad here but, true, PSG have a very, very good strike force. It’s great fun to play alongside these players.
Question: With Mario Gomez and Timo Werner out, the squad is lacking a couple of strikers. Are you worried about the squad being weakened?
It’s almost exactly a year ago since Julian Draxler scored the first goal for Germany in a 2-0 win against Northern Ireland. Since then, a lot has happened. In January, the 24-year-old moved to Paris Saint-Germain. In the summer, Julian wore the captain’s armband during Germany’s successful Confederations Cup victory. After the first training session with the squad, Julian Draxler answered questions on the following.
Question: It’s time to take the final step into qualifying. What do you need to do on the pitch to qualify for the World Cup in Belfast?
Julian Draxler: I believe that it will be a tough game that won’t be especially pleasing on the eye like the first game in Hannover. Northern Ireland can defend well and we will definitely need to put in a very good performance to take anything from the game. We have to play at a high tempo and try to create chances so we can get an early lead. If we do that, I’m confident that we can qualify ahead of time.
Question: In the Champions League win against Bayern, you only featured briefly but then played very well in the win in the league. How are you in terms of fitness?
Draxler: I am fit and feeling good. After the Confed Cup, I needed a bit longer than some others in the PSG squad to get back to full fitness but now I’m feeling fine. I’ve started in the last four league games.
Question: Is it fun playing in a team such as Paris Saint-Germain with a team full of such great players?
Draxler: It’s no different to the national team when you look at the squad here but, true, PSG have a very, very good strike force. It’s great fun to play alongside these players.
Question: With Mario Gomez and Timo Werner out, the squad is lacking a couple of strikers. Are you worried about the squad being weakened?
Draxler: Of course, they’re great strikers and we’d much rather be with them than without them. However, the squad is very strong throughout and we have options in every position including striker.
Question: After captaining the Confed Cup team to victory and playing for a team like PSG, do you feel you are more respected in the dressing room?
Draxler: Not really. I feel that’s happened naturally over the past few years as a part of the national team set-up since 2012. For me, respect is gained by your performances on the pitch and we did well in the Confed Cup.
Question: How did you find the experience as captain personally?
Draxler: It was a great experience to have. It was a great honour to lead out the team but it hasn’t affected me as a person.
Question: The preparations before the Northern Ireland game have been very short with just two training sessions beforehand. Do you have any doubts?
Draxler: Not especially. In the last two years, we’ve become even closer as a group. We go the extra mile for each other.
Question: Qualification for this World Cup echoes the Euro 2016 qualification where Germany lost in the penultimate game in Ireland so have to win at home to Georgia to qualify. How have you found this qualification round in comparison to the last?
Draxler: After winning the World Cup, we let a few points get away from us in qualifying but this time the Head Coach hasn’t let us take our foot off the gas throughout qualifying. We want to show the world that we’re a force to be reckoned with in the 2018 World Cup. We’ve done very well so far and haven’t dropped points so far which we want to pull through on. Now, we want to see it through ‘til the end and we’re using every available opportunity to get ready for the World Cup.
