Mario Götze has made 51 Bundesliga appearances for FC Bayern München to date, including a 7-0 win against Werder Bremen, the 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim and an 8-0 drubbing of Hamburger SV. A lot of goals and many great moments. There is one game that sticks in Götze’s memory that had a similar result. The record champions won the game 3-0 and that was that, but not for Götze. Season 2013/2014, matchday 13, 23/11/2013. Borussia Dortmund against Bayern München. 495 days seems like an eternity in football. Götze doesn’t remember much but he still remembers the day and it’s no surprise why: “It was my first game for FC Bayern in Dortmund,” said Götze to fcbayern.de.
At the time, everything was still fresh in the memory. Götze had moved from BVB to FCB and the German classic was always a game with history for Götze. He played for twelve years at Borussia, making 83 Bundesliga appearances and he won two league titles and one DFB Cup with BVB. For the fans in Dortmund, Götze was always one of them. His move to Munich hit them hard.
Götze was given a warm reception during Germany’s Euro 2016 qualifier and the support did him good. “I was positively surprised and I was very happy. It was a nice feeling to get that in Dortmund. I play for my team and for the fans and the people that are in the stadium. It was good to get some positive feedback.”
Not expecting a huge welcome
But Götze isn’t naive and he knows and he suspects that the fans won’t give him a huge welcome in the Bundesliga. It’s an old saying but it’s still relevant. “In some ways I understand the fans who wanted to see me still playing in a BVB shirt. But I see that as a compliment.” If he hadn’t done so well for the club then he wouldn’t have been such a big loss. Players who don’t perform aren’t missed whereas Götze was.
If not more this season than last. Götze has obviously noticed Dortmund’s poor run of form and he’s been just as surprised as every fan and pundit. In an interview with fcbayern.de, he explained that Dortmund is in the past for him, as is his first return back to Dortmund. “It happened some time ago so I don’t think about it anymore. It’s a small memory, nothing more. New challenges always come along and I’m concentrating on that.”
Presently, he is an FC Bayern player. On Saturday (18:30) Götze will face his old club Borussia Dortmund in yet another special game. For both Götze and the wider game. BVB versus FCB is still the German El Clasico – Der Klassiker – and BVB have rediscovered their form just in time for the crunch match against Bayern. The possibility of relegation seems a distant memory now as Jürgen Klopp’s have won five of their last seven games, sit tenth in the league and have Europe back in their sight.
Götze: "We’re in a very, very good situation."
It’s just another game for Götze though. He is concentrating on bigger things with FC Bayern. In his first season for Bayern things went very well for Götze, this season things are going even better. Last season he scored ten goals, this year he is already on nine. Things are going well for Götze, the figures show that and results are improving. Does this interest him? “Not really”, he said. “You need to take into account how many games somebody has played, if they were injured, the whole situation. Because of that such comparisons are difficult.”
Furthermore, it’s a lot more important the team’s results improve. But in this area, things also looking very good for Bayern. Götze agrees. “We’re in a very good situation again this year. We’re in the quarter final of the Champions League and DFB Cup and are way ahead in the Bundesliga. We’re in a very, very good situation.”