Champion with Besiktas, the league's top goalscorer and now part of Germany's squad for the European Championships in France - Mario Gomez is back! After two difficult years the striker has rediscovered his self-confidence, adjusted his attitude and set himself new goals. Gomez met with DFB.de in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the friendly against Hungary on Saturday to talk about his time at Fiorentina, Istanbul, and the national team.
DFB.de: Mr. Gomez, could Mario Gomez the footballer be fully satisfied without scoring goals?
Mario Gomez: No, I'm too much of a striker for that. I will always want to score goals, but a teams' success is far more important.
DFB.de: You bagged 26 goals for Besiktas this season and every goal helps to improve one's confidence. Can you describe how important self-confidence is to playing well?
Gomez: It's all about assurance. Although that only plays a part in having moments of success. Coaches always say: "You will get assurance through training." Golfers for example, find their swing precision through constant repetition. It's similar to striking the ball when trying to score a goal. Many aspects have to come together at the same time. I've always been a player who relies on instinct. I've had a good eye for goal and known where to position myself inside the penalty area. But instinct and good positioning isn't worth anything if you lack self-assurance in your attempt on target. With every goal you gain assurance.
DFB.de: You once made the following statement: "Everyone, who has not been to Turkey advised against it and everyone who has been here encouraged me."
Gomez: Yes.
DFB.de: Don't you think that it's astounding, that people have an opinion on things they can't even judge themselves?
Gomez: No, it's in the nature of human beings. We all live with prejudices and no one can free themselves from that. Everyone talks about current affairs - it's the way it is. When I ask someone for their opinion, I want to hear it and that's completely alright. Turkey just looked upon critically from a political point of view and that was already the case when I started thinking about going there. Since then, I've often asked myself why Turkey doesn't have a more positive image, as it should have.
DFB.de: Because you really enjoy the country?
Gomez: Turkey is fantastic. If we leave out the political issues, then Turkey is definitely one of the best countries in Europe. It's such a diverse country and so worthy to live in. The people are incredibly friendly and helpful.
DFB.de: Prior to Istanbul, you played for Fiorentina in Italy. Did you reach a certain point when you knew that it wasn't working out for you anymore there?
Gomez: In hindsight I can say: For some reason it just wasn't meant to work out there. There were good reasons to join Fiorentina and they had great plans. In attack I played together with Giuseppe Rossi and we combined well together. We got off to a great start and after two games together we had scored five goals between us. The third game followed and after 20 minutes I suffer a severe knee injury.
DFB.de: It took you five months to recover.
Gomez: During these five months I already started to feel a separation from the club. All the positives turned into the opposite. The longer I was ruled out, the more turmoil was created. The reason for that was also that the club communicated to the public that I would only be sidelined for two months. After three months it was said: "Gomez is on vacation." After four months they said: "He is only simulating." There were so many false reports and stories written about me. But the more of these stories emerged, the more pressure I put on myself. I knew about their expectations and I wanted to match them. But I was simply in pain and unable to deliver. It was also painful to find out that I wasn’t trusted by many. The whole situation just went into the wrong direction.
DFB.de. What was your feeling when you left Florence?
Gomez: I love Florence! The sense of life that the people have there is amazing - simply fantastic. I knew that the Serie A wasn't at its strongest level when I came there. But I was looking forward to helping Fiorentina into a new era of success. I never thought it could turn into such a negative dynamic towards me. Obviously I regard my spell at Fiorentina as a disappointment.
DFB.de: After signing for Besiktas one of your goals was certainly to return to Germany's national team, right?
Gomez: I've always said to myself: "That can't have been it, it's not possible. My time with the national team can not end like this." In my two disappointing years at Fiorentina I realised what football meant for me and how much it influences my life. I watched the boys win the title in 2014 and I was a huge fan. But I've always had the drive to come back and be part of the team again. It's simply something special, to play in a special team made up of world-class players. Another reason for my transfer to Besiktas was also the fact that their coach said: "We will make you fit and then you will play. Period." This statement was crucial, especially in regard to the Euro's. I knew that I needed a season where I would play the entire campaign and be spared from injury.
DFB.de: Can you describe your feelings when Joachim Löw called you in November 2015 to tell you that you were back on board?
Gomez: I was in contact with our coach a few times before that. When he eventually nominated me I wasn't as surprised anymore. It didn't feel like a gift though. I was convinced that I had earned my place in the team but I was obviously also happy to be back and my confidence grew even further.
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Champion with Besiktas, the league's top goalscorer and now part of Germany's squad for the European Championships in France - Mario Gomez is back! After two difficult years the striker has rediscovered his self-confidence, adjusted his attitude and set himself new goals. Gomez met with DFB.de in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the friendly against Hungary on Saturday to talk about his time at Fiorentina, Istanbul, and the national team.
DFB.de: Mr. Gomez, could Mario Gomez the footballer be fully satisfied without scoring goals?
Mario Gomez: No, I'm too much of a striker for that. I will always want to score goals, but a teams' success is far more important.
DFB.de: You bagged 26 goals for Besiktas this season and every goal helps to improve one's confidence. Can you describe how important self-confidence is to playing well?
Gomez: It's all about assurance. Although that only plays a part in having moments of success. Coaches always say: "You will get assurance through training." Golfers for example, find their swing precision through constant repetition. It's similar to striking the ball when trying to score a goal. Many aspects have to come together at the same time. I've always been a player who relies on instinct. I've had a good eye for goal and known where to position myself inside the penalty area. But instinct and good positioning isn't worth anything if you lack self-assurance in your attempt on target. With every goal you gain assurance.
DFB.de: You once made the following statement: "Everyone, who has not been to Turkey advised against it and everyone who has been here encouraged me."
Gomez: Yes.
DFB.de: Don't you think that it's astounding, that people have an opinion on things they can't even judge themselves?
Gomez: No, it's in the nature of human beings. We all live with prejudices and no one can free themselves from that. Everyone talks about current affairs - it's the way it is. When I ask someone for their opinion, I want to hear it and that's completely alright. Turkey just looked upon critically from a political point of view and that was already the case when I started thinking about going there. Since then, I've often asked myself why Turkey doesn't have a more positive image, as it should have.
DFB.de: Because you really enjoy the country?
Gomez: Turkey is fantastic. If we leave out the political issues, then Turkey is definitely one of the best countries in Europe. It's such a diverse country and so worthy to live in. The people are incredibly friendly and helpful.
DFB.de: Prior to Istanbul, you played for Fiorentina in Italy. Did you reach a certain point when you knew that it wasn't working out for you anymore there?
Gomez: In hindsight I can say: For some reason it just wasn't meant to work out there. There were good reasons to join Fiorentina and they had great plans. In attack I played together with Giuseppe Rossi and we combined well together. We got off to a great start and after two games together we had scored five goals between us. The third game followed and after 20 minutes I suffer a severe knee injury.
DFB.de: It took you five months to recover.
Gomez: During these five months I already started to feel a separation from the club. All the positives turned into the opposite. The longer I was ruled out, the more turmoil was created. The reason for that was also that the club communicated to the public that I would only be sidelined for two months. After three months it was said: "Gomez is on vacation." After four months they said: "He is only simulating." There were so many false reports and stories written about me. But the more of these stories emerged, the more pressure I put on myself. I knew about their expectations and I wanted to match them. But I was simply in pain and unable to deliver. It was also painful to find out that I wasn’t trusted by many. The whole situation just went into the wrong direction.
DFB.de. What was your feeling when you left Florence?
Gomez: I love Florence! The sense of life that the people have there is amazing - simply fantastic. I knew that the Serie A wasn't at its strongest level when I came there. But I was looking forward to helping Fiorentina into a new era of success. I never thought it could turn into such a negative dynamic towards me. Obviously I regard my spell at Fiorentina as a disappointment.
DFB.de: After signing for Besiktas one of your goals was certainly to return to Germany's national team, right?
Gomez: I've always said to myself: "That can't have been it, it's not possible. My time with the national team can not end like this." In my two disappointing years at Fiorentina I realised what football meant for me and how much it influences my life. I watched the boys win the title in 2014 and I was a huge fan. But I've always had the drive to come back and be part of the team again. It's simply something special, to play in a special team made up of world-class players. Another reason for my transfer to Besiktas was also the fact that their coach said: "We will make you fit and then you will play. Period." This statement was crucial, especially in regard to the Euro's. I knew that I needed a season where I would play the entire campaign and be spared from injury.
DFB.de: Can you describe your feelings when Joachim Löw called you in November 2015 to tell you that you were back on board?
Gomez: I was in contact with our coach a few times before that. When he eventually nominated me I wasn't as surprised anymore. It didn't feel like a gift though. I was convinced that I had earned my place in the team but I was obviously also happy to be back and my confidence grew even further.
