DFB.de regularly introduces a player from the national team who has a particularly significant weekend coming up. Today we’ve selected FC Bayern München's Mario Götze, who is set to reach a milestone this weekend.
A few days ago, Xabi Alonso spoke about Pep Guardiola in an interview. They talked about the manager's football philosophy, his nature and insights to his training programme. They spoke about small things, specific training exercises and about Guardiola's tendency to put a lot of emphasis on details. When Alonso was asked to give an example of this, he explained a simple instruction that was given by his manager to team mate Mario Götze. Guardiola said: "Mario, just stand still and wait for a bit." Don't stress, take it easy.
Stand sill and wait. Not that easy when you are Mario Götze. However, one of the attacking midfielder’s many talents is patience – off the pitch. On the pitch he is full of energy, but off the pitch he does have a tendency to be a bit relaxed in his private life. At times he appears a bit sleepy and he is known to require some time in the morning before being able to fully operate. Oliver Bierhoff, also a morning grouch, once declared Mario Götze as his legitimate successor to Germany's national team.
On the pitch it's a completely different story. There are no signs of lethargy or sleepiness once he registers the ball. Götze is constantly looking to receive the ball and once said the following on his passion for the sport: "When I’m on the pitch, it's as if I forget everything else that's going on. I'm completely immersed in a different world and all I can then think about is football." On the one hand that's a good thing, but at times he consumes a lot of energy trying to get into possession, which is why Guardiola told him: "Mario, the ball will come to you on its own."
A year and a half ago, Götze embarked on a new adventure, joining FC Bayern from Borussia Dortmund. Götze knows that he has plenty to thank Dortmund for and has often expressed his gratitude for his former club, where he became a professional, won the German championship for the first time and became a Germany international. He will never forget these things, but still opted for a new challenge – Munich and manager Pep Guardiola.
Götze set for Bundesliga milestone
This partnership has been ongoing for more than a year and a half now. Götze made his Bundesliga debut for FCB 576 days ago, right on time for the Bundesliga's 50th anniversary. Götze himself is set for a personal milestone 19 months later. Having made 49 Bundesliga appearances for the record champions so far, Götze is set for his 50th league game with FCB on Saturday, when Bayern travel to SV Werder Bremen (15:30 CET).
There are two reasons why he hasn’t achieved this feat quicker. Firstly, FCB have an extremely deep squad with plenty of quality in midfield, including Ribery, Robben, Müller, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Martinez and Alonso. Secondly, Götze was recovering from an injury during his first months in Bavaria. After his debut against 1. FC Nürnberg he sustained another injury, which annoyed Götze at the time. "It's difficult when you join a new club and aren’t able to play straight away," he explained. "You want to prove yourself. I learnt a lot from that situation and emerged a stronger person from it."
Götze's first season at FCB was not a disappointment. His ten goals and eight assists are impressive statistics in Germany's top flight. However, he was not a key player in his first year. Nine of his team mates had more appearances in the 2013/14 campaign than Götze (27). That has changed this season though: Only Thomas Müller (24) and Juan Bernat (23) have made more Bundesliga appearances than Götze (22) at FCB this campaign.
Good relationship with Pep Guardiola
The World Champion has established himself in Munich and manager Guardiola has become a firm supporter of the attacking midfielder. Götze and Guardiola were spotted having lunch together at an Asian restaurant not long ago – a privilege that only few players get to enjoy. "It was special," Götze said afterwards. "The manager mostly talked about football and his philosophy, but he doesn't forget to ask about your personal situation and how you are doing. This type of honest dialogue with the manager is extremely important for us players."
Perhaps Götze and Guardiola also talked about patience – who knows.
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DFB.de regularly introduces a player from the national team who has a particularly significant weekend coming up. Today we’ve selected FC Bayern München's Mario Götze, who is set to reach a milestone this weekend.
A few days ago, Xabi Alonso spoke about Pep Guardiola in an interview. They talked about the manager's football philosophy, his nature and insights to his training programme. They spoke about small things, specific training exercises and about Guardiola's tendency to put a lot of emphasis on details. When Alonso was asked to give an example of this, he explained a simple instruction that was given by his manager to team mate Mario Götze. Guardiola said: "Mario, just stand still and wait for a bit." Don't stress, take it easy.
Stand sill and wait. Not that easy when you are Mario Götze. However, one of the attacking midfielder’s many talents is patience – off the pitch. On the pitch he is full of energy, but off the pitch he does have a tendency to be a bit relaxed in his private life. At times he appears a bit sleepy and he is known to require some time in the morning before being able to fully operate. Oliver Bierhoff, also a morning grouch, once declared Mario Götze as his legitimate successor to Germany's national team.
On the pitch it's a completely different story. There are no signs of lethargy or sleepiness once he registers the ball. Götze is constantly looking to receive the ball and once said the following on his passion for the sport: "When I’m on the pitch, it's as if I forget everything else that's going on. I'm completely immersed in a different world and all I can then think about is football." On the one hand that's a good thing, but at times he consumes a lot of energy trying to get into possession, which is why Guardiola told him: "Mario, the ball will come to you on its own."
A year and a half ago, Götze embarked on a new adventure, joining FC Bayern from Borussia Dortmund. Götze knows that he has plenty to thank Dortmund for and has often expressed his gratitude for his former club, where he became a professional, won the German championship for the first time and became a Germany international. He will never forget these things, but still opted for a new challenge – Munich and manager Pep Guardiola.
Götze set for Bundesliga milestone
This partnership has been ongoing for more than a year and a half now. Götze made his Bundesliga debut for FCB 576 days ago, right on time for the Bundesliga's 50th anniversary. Götze himself is set for a personal milestone 19 months later. Having made 49 Bundesliga appearances for the record champions so far, Götze is set for his 50th league game with FCB on Saturday, when Bayern travel to SV Werder Bremen (15:30 CET).
There are two reasons why he hasn’t achieved this feat quicker. Firstly, FCB have an extremely deep squad with plenty of quality in midfield, including Ribery, Robben, Müller, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Martinez and Alonso. Secondly, Götze was recovering from an injury during his first months in Bavaria. After his debut against 1. FC Nürnberg he sustained another injury, which annoyed Götze at the time. "It's difficult when you join a new club and aren’t able to play straight away," he explained. "You want to prove yourself. I learnt a lot from that situation and emerged a stronger person from it."
Götze's first season at FCB was not a disappointment. His ten goals and eight assists are impressive statistics in Germany's top flight. However, he was not a key player in his first year. Nine of his team mates had more appearances in the 2013/14 campaign than Götze (27). That has changed this season though: Only Thomas Müller (24) and Juan Bernat (23) have made more Bundesliga appearances than Götze (22) at FCB this campaign.
Good relationship with Pep Guardiola
The World Champion has established himself in Munich and manager Guardiola has become a firm supporter of the attacking midfielder. Götze and Guardiola were spotted having lunch together at an Asian restaurant not long ago – a privilege that only few players get to enjoy. "It was special," Götze said afterwards. "The manager mostly talked about football and his philosophy, but he doesn't forget to ask about your personal situation and how you are doing. This type of honest dialogue with the manager is extremely important for us players."
Perhaps Götze and Guardiola also talked about patience – who knows.
