World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi is still undergoing pre-season preparations with his side Valencia CF, ahead of their first game of the La Liga season against Rayo Vallecano on 22nd August. The 23-year-old spoke to SID about transfer rumours, his career path, his old love HSV, his re-education as a defender, his World Cup dream that came true and his future with Die Mannschaft.
Interviewer: Mr. Mustafi, how pleased are you with your first season in Spain?
Shkodran Mustafi: I achieved my personal aims and we also achieved our aims as a team – in that sense it was a successful season.
Interviewer: There were rumours that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona were interested in signing you. What is the current situation?
Mustafi: The fact is, I’m a FC Valencia player. For any questions about transfers you will have to talk to my father and my agent. I am not thinking about it. I have to concentrate on the start of the season, we have a champions league qualification match against AS Monaco, and so it is not appropriate for me to think about that.
Interviewer: But you are aware of the interest?
Mustafi: Everyone is, I think.
Interviewer: Do you think you can win the league with FC Valencia?
World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi is still undergoing pre-season preparations with his side Valencia CF, ahead of their first game of the La Liga season against Rayo Vallecano on 22nd August. The 23-year-old spoke to SID about transfer rumours, his career path, his old love HSV, his re-education as a defender, his World Cup dream that came true and his future with Die Mannschaft.
Interviewer: Mr. Mustafi, how pleased are you with your first season in Spain?
Shkodran Mustafi: I achieved my personal aims and we also achieved our aims as a team – in that sense it was a successful season.
Interviewer: There were rumours that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona were interested in signing you. What is the current situation?
Mustafi: The fact is, I’m a FC Valencia player. For any questions about transfers you will have to talk to my father and my agent. I am not thinking about it. I have to concentrate on the start of the season, we have a champions league qualification match against AS Monaco, and so it is not appropriate for me to think about that.
Interviewer: But you are aware of the interest?
Mustafi: Everyone is, I think.
Interviewer: Do you think you can win the league with FC Valencia?
Mustafi: The sky is the limit - we know what we are capable of. We are a team that works hard, and we have to give 100% in every game. We know though, if we do that, then we have a chance in every match.
Interviewer: So you don’t necessarily have to play for Real or Barca to be champion?
Mustafi: No, Valencia have proven that in the past many a time.
Interviewer: Despite your age you have already played in England, Italy and now in Spain – what is the strongest league in your opinion?
Mustafi: That depends on what footballing philosophy you value most. I really like the Spanish league, it is a perfect mix between tactics and speed, which in my opinion makes it the strongest league in the world. Having said that, I can understand people who would see this differently.
Interviewer: Out of the top four European leagues, the only one you are yet to play in is the Bundesliga – even though you’re a Germany international! When can we expect to see you here?
Mustafi: I’m not sure. If there was ever a chance that I would transfer from Valencia, I’d sit down with my father and my agent first. And when we all think that it’s the best option for me to move to the Bundesliga, that’s what we’ll do. However, there’s no pressure on me to move.
Interviewer: You’re only 23 years old – you probably have at least ten years left of playing ahead of you...
Mustafi: ...therefore I’m not in any rush at all.
Interviewer: You represented the Hamburger SV youth teams. What do you expect from your old side this season?
Mustafi: I hope that they don’t have to fight for survival again this season. HSV is a huge club, with a huge fan base – Hamburg is also an amazing city, and therefore the club has absolutely everything that a Bundesliga club could wish for. It’s simple – HSV belong in the top flight, and I hope that continues in the coming years.
Interviewer: Is it true that you joined HSV as a striker, and then changed positions?
Mustafi: At U14 level I was moved from striker to defensive midfielder, and then from there to central defender.
Interviewer: Was that a defining point in your career? Or do you think you’d still have become a Germany international as a striker?
Mustafi: I’m very, very happy with how it’s all worked out. I think that the change in my position made sense. So far it’s definitely paid off.
Interviewer: Were you happy with the change at the time? A striker who scores lots of goals isn’t usually moved further back on the pitch without a fuss...
Mustafi: The biggest difference is the pressure. When you miss a chance up top, it’s nowhere near as bad as when you give the ball away as a defender. Therefore it required a sort of re-education. But I’m very easy-going and I’m always willing to do what the coach requires of me. And since everything has turned out the way it has, I’m incredibly thankful to my coach from that time Steffen Brauer, who I’m still in contact with, that he recognised my talent as a central defender and acted upon it.
Interviewer: Last year, you were called up for the Germany squad that went to the World Cup, and you even played in Brazil – obviously becoming a World Champion at the end of it. Have you come to terms with that yet?
Mustafi: Something like that takes time – time I didn’t have directly after the tournament, because I moved straight to Valencia. Now I’ve been on holiday and I’ve had the chance to take some quiet time to think about everything that’s happened to me in the last year. But having said that, it’s still an indescribable feeling.
Interviewer: Have you ever thought about what would have happened had Marco Reus not been injured?
Mustafi: Not in much depth. I wanted to take the positive energy into my new challenge. There was not much time to think about the ‘what ifs’. I only thought how amazing it was, and how I would keep working in order to experience it a second time.
Interviewer: Is it true that you actually missed the all-important call from the national coach Joachim Löw?
Mustafi: I missed the first call from deputy coach Hansi Flick. Luckily, I heard the second one from the head coach. I’m glad I picked up. (laughs)
Interviewer: You are now a regular member of the national team. Have you got used to this yet, or are you still in awe?
Mustafi: You can never take representing your country for granted. Even as a world champion, you have no free ticket. My goal has always been to justify my place in the squad through performances - you can never rest on your laurels.
Interviewer: If you stay uninjured, surely you will be a part of the EM squad though?
Mustafi: Personally I am not presuming anything. I am only 23 and I still have a lot to learn. But of course I hope to be involved.
Interviewer: Is there any fear amongst the Germany national team that you won’t qualify for the European Championship, after what’s been quite a turbulent qualification process so far?
Mustafi: As players, we’re not worried at all, because we know it’s still all in our hands – and I think we’ve earned the trust of the fans too.
Interviewer: Were you hoping that Germany would be drawn against Albania in the recent World Cup qualifying draw – or would that have been too emotional for you?
Mustafi: It certainly wasn’t an easy situation for me to be in. I’ve got huge amounts of respect for both my home countries, and I hope that both teams continue to play well – but were it to come to that, I’d prepare for the game just like any other. I chose to play for the Germany national team, and I stand by that choice.
