Italy or Spain? The main thing is that it’s Juve. Yesterday, Sami Khedira clarified his sporting future. The World Cup winner chose the Old Lady and signed a four-year contract in Turin. But right now it’s the national team that matters. Khedira is in the squad for tonight’s match against the USA, and that is followed on Saturday by a European qualifier against Gibraltar in Faro. The next big event comes one day later at the Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau in Stuttgart with the “Game of the year”: a benefit match for the Sami Khedira Foundation. Emotional days for the 28-year-old, who spoke about all this with Editor Steffan Lüdeke.
DFB.de: Mr Khedira, yesterday you announced your move to Juventus. What tipped the scale in favour of Juve?
Sami Khedira: Juve is a fantastic club, a club with great tradition, a brilliant present and a bright future. It’s no coincidence that the team has found itself at the top table of European clubs again this year. I’m sure that Juve will continue having a say in the fight for big titles in Europe, and I want to play my part in that. I’m really looking forward to the challenge of a new club, a new league and a new country. I can’t wait to get to know my new club and teammates.
DFB.de: The national team have been staying in Cologne since Sunday, and many players have cut short their holidays. Does that include you? Or did you have too much on your plate, with your departure from Madrid, your move to Turin and the preparations for the benefit match, to be able to go on holiday?
Khedira: It’s been a mix of everything really. I’ve already been on holiday with some friends for a few days, but my focus was always on training and sorting out my future. It’s no secret that this last year hasn’t been easy for me, and I’ve had to cope with that. I’ve also been in Stuttgart a lot, doing autograph signing sessions and having meetings with sponsors. And of course I’ve been involved in organizing the final details of the “Game of the year”. There was always something to do.
DFB.de: So are the games against the USA and Gibraltar a welcome break?
Khedira: I wouldn’t say it’s a break, but more of a change. Because of developments in the past months, it’s really nice for me to be able to finally get back to my job and play football again. I know all about the debate over playing fixtures in June, but I can personally say that I’m thankful to be able to play these two games.
DFB.de: You had already decided to leave Real Madrid before the end of last season. Did your long spell on the sidelines make the goodbye easier or more difficult?
Khedira: It’s no secret that this step was not easy for me to take. But it’s even easier when you can make the decision yourself, as it was with me. I was able to mull over the decision for a long while. Even during my injury, I had thoughts about how and where I could continue, and it’s been clear to me for a good six months that I wanted a new challenge. It was nothing against Real Madrid, but just a decision for something new. I needed new excitement and a new challenge for myself as a person and for my career.
DFB.de: How was your final day in Madrid?
Khedira: It was really difficult and emotional. Anything else would be a lie. But that simply shows how good I felt there. A good time has come to an end – that’s both nice and painful at the same time. But now I’m looking forward to new good times.
DFB.de: Apart from the numerous titles, what remains after five years in Madrid?
Khedira: The titles are the only things that are certain for everyone. Of course the successes are precious and important, but they are not decisive when I look at my future life. After your career, you continue living as a person, not as a footballer. But most of all, what remains is the great people I’ve met there, both at the club and outside the club. I was able to experience a completely new way of living, a different mentality, new people, and a different perspective on some things. My time in Madrid, and with Real Madrid, has brought a lot to me, and I am happy that I was able to have this experience.
DFB.de: How would you like to be remembered there?
Khedira: As a very professional player and fair sportsman. I’d really like it if people said: he is one of us, he is a madridista . I gave everything for the club over five years, and I hope that people recognise this. Real Madrid is in my heart, and the club will remain there forever.
DFB.de: You’re already with the national team, who are now operating under the name “die Mannschaft” (the Team). Do you think this has been embraced by the core of the team?
Khedira: I find it great that we’re being perceived as such, as we are – a united, real team. It’s something that has been developing further, and this togetherness was our great plus point at the World Cup in Brazil. And now this is being expressed in Germany in name, too. I also see being labelled “die Mannschaft” as an obligation. It’s basically a title that we have to keep earning.
DFB.de: Team spirit and togetherness – you are among the players who stand for these ideas like few others. You also missed out on the World Cup final. Do you get annoyed when a player threatens the togetherness of the team?
Khedira: If I witness drifts in the wrong direction, then there are clear calls for me to make. But not just from me. We have several players who assume responsibility and would intervene in such cases. But I see no danger in the national team of there being players whose egos run free. After the World Cup there was some upheaval. Nevertheless, we’ve been together as a team for a long time, the team is very close. The new players like Antonio Rüdiger or Patrick Herrmann are also really great kids. They have integrated themselves very well. I don’t believe that the future is precarious, nor do I believe that there will be problems with team spirit in the national team in the long run.
DFB.de: The World Champion’s brand essence is “die Mannschaft”. Which brand essences does Sami Khedira have?
Khedira: I always find it difficult to talk about myself. The only thing I can say about myself is that I try everyday to get the best out of me. I strive to always be professional and so live out my dream job, so that I can always bring my best abilities for my teams.
DFB.de: Team spirit and unity – do you agree that “die Mannschaft” had its founding moment in the Euro U21 Championship in Sweden in 2009?
Khedira: That wouldn’t be fair to the players who weren’t there. What I will say is that the set-up was similar to what we had in the World Cup in 2014. We had good individual players, but we distinguished ourselves from other teams in that we really played as a team. Horst Hrubesch, the manager, was responsible for that. He formed real unity from different types of people. Leading up to the final we never played convincingly, but we always played together. It was characteristic of the team that Andi Beck scored the winning goal in the semi-final against Italy, because we all defended together and attacked together. The togetherness was outstanding.
DFB.de: Back then Fabian Johnson was part of the German squad. In today’s game against the USA in Cologne, he is your opponent.
Khedira: He has developed superbly, which was inconceivable in that form. He is one of the Bundesliga’s top players – he had an outstanding season with Gladbach. In the USA team he is one of the main components, hats off to him. I always look forward to when I play against companions. That’s why the game against the USA has a special meaning for me.
DFB.de: The USA are currently preparing for the Gold Cup, “die Mannschaft” are currently on holiday. Quite different situations, so what impact will this have on the game?
Khedira: On holiday? That’s a bit of an exaggeration. The players from Dortmund and Wolfsburg have only just played the DFB Cup final. There was a short break, sure, but I believe that all the players have kept themselves fit during this time. I won’t deny that the set-up in our heads isn’t so simple, because mentally we can’t be at the pinnacle of our performance. In that sense the USA have a small advantage, we can’t lie to ourselves about that. But we also have an important qualifying match on Saturday which we want to warm up for. No one, however, will be approaching the USA match casually.
DFB.de: So you’re saying that the match is a warm-up for the game in Faro. The idea of David vs Goliath is nothing new for you, so what is the greatest danger?
Khedira: We know that very well from the first game. We have to approach the game seriously and in complete seriousness. If you don’t do that then you will have problems, even against Gibraltar. Nowadays all teams can run, they can all defend, make the space tight and put in good tackles. So when you are lax with your movement and believe that you can play a game with half your ability, then it will be hard. When the opposition defend with eight, nine players, then you must be versatile, creative and aggressive, or you will go nowhere.
DFB.de: Do you still have scenes in your head of the first game against Gibraltar in Nuremberg? Germany won 4-0, but for a long time it was difficult.
Khedira: Last week I was away on holiday for two days with Max Kruse to do some training, and we spoke about that game whilst doing some running. We said how we absolutely couldn’t let that game slip our minds. The space was so tight – one meter behind one opponent, the next one was waiting for us. The spectators had expectations that we would casually find a solution to such a task, but it’s not so simple. This time we want to do it better. We have to play quicker, move more and then find the gaps. If we do that, we will not only win the game but also play commandingly and convincing.
DFB.de: You had a long chat with Joachim Löw on Monday evening in the team hotel. Can you reveal what you spoke about with the manager?
Khedira: Not in detail. But it was about the games against the USA and Gibraltar, and also about my personal situation. It was quite a general chat.
DFB.de: So you didn’t advise him on what you expect from him. Anyway, he will be making an appearance as a player on 14th June. In the “Game of the year” he will be taking part as a player, not as a manager.
Khedira: Yes, true, we also spoke about that. He brought up again whether he could play on Sunday. (Laughs) And yes, he can. The coach is always very fit. At the World Cup you saw in what good nick he is. He would go for runs on the beach, so he will be able to keep up, no problem.
DFB.de: Oliver Bierhoff will also be involved. The team director took part in training yesterday. Have you paid any special attention to him? In what form will Bierhoff appear on Sunday?
Khedira: Oliver tried yesterday to half talk his way out of it. He said he isn’t fit and won’t be able to run much. But that wasn’t going to work. Even during his career he wasn’t exactly a great runner (laughs) . He simply has to stand near the goal – which he can do. I’m glad that both of them will be there, I really appreciate it.
DFB.de: Several teammates from the national team and from Real Madrid are coming to the "Game of the year", including players like Pirlo and Drogba. How happy are you with this response?
Khedira: It’s outstanding; you can really see quality in the squads. I think we can look forward to an interesting and high-class match, exactly how I’d imagined.
DFB.de: You’ll be using the proceeds to support children’s homes and a children’s hospice around Stuttgart. Why are you helping here?
Khedira: I’ve had a lot of luck in my life and achieved what most kids and teenagers dream of. I did it through a lot of work, a lot of hardship and a lot of support, and so I want to give something back. I want to give disadvantaged children and teenagers from my home the chance for them to develop themselves and have the same possibilities. The message that we give to the children and teenagers at the game is also important for me. They will see that we can achieve something, that the campaign is worth it. They can appear by the side of big names in front of 12,000, and the game will be live on Sport1 . It will be an unforgettable experience for the youngsters. It should also be an impetus for the children who are not there this time. We are planning to continue with this campaign, so it’s worth hanging around – maybe it’ll all work out next time.
DFB.de: The stadium is full, with 11,000 tickets already sold. Is there still a possibility to get tickets?
Khedira: There are still around 800 tickets left, and they are for sale until Wednesday evening from my foundation’s website: sami-khedira-stiftung.de. You can still help even if you’re not going to the stadium. On the homepage you can find out how much we have earned and, moreover, where the money is going. What’s important to me is that my staff, all volunteers, are busy. 100 percent of the money collected by us will go towards these caring aims.
DFB.de: You were also recently busy in Brazil, auctioning off the painted screen of the training complex in Campo Bahia. How did that come about?
Khedira: José Meneses from our security with the DFB made me aware of it. He made contact with Theresa Ernst, the daughter of Rainer Ernst, who built our training complex. She had created the art works on the screens of our training complex with children from the surrounding area. And I jumped at the chance, when offered the opportunity, to buy a section and contribute a donation to support a local project. I find the involvement great, because it’s about helping children in Brazil, like my foundation. And so I gladly helped, because it was also a great reminder of the World Cup in Brazil for me. It was really a win-win situation.
