Premier League MARCA interviews Arsenal's German midfielder

Mesut Ozil granted MARCA an exclusive interview through the Laureus Foundation, a company that recognises and celebrates teams, players and initiatives that symbolise the best in the world of sport.

Should we do the interview in English or Spanish?

Can we do it in German? [Laughs]. I'd prefer to do it in English since I've forgotten a bit of my Spanish because I'm out of practice.

How do you talk to Sergio Ramos then?

In English, to tell you the truth. Sergio speaks pretty good English and has gotten a lot better. It is also true that English is easier than Spanish, at least for me it is. So when I text Sergio, we normally do so in English. When they speak to me quickly in Spanish... I get a bit lost.

Do you speak often?

Yeah, he is a good friend of mine. And I admire him a lot too. We write to each other... he comes to visit me in London at times... We've kept in touch.

Has Mesut Ozil changed a lot since leaving Real Madrid?

I don't think I've changed much, to be honest. I try to be the same guy I've always been. I'm very happy here at Arsenal and try to be the same as I was when I started playing. Everything boils down to different stages. Of course, I've never forgotten my spell at Real Madrid. It's already been three years and I have great memories of that time.

Looking back, does the good during your spell at Real Madrid outweigh the bad?

Of course. As you know, Real Madrid is an enormous club [with lots of history]. I played with fantastic players and still have friends there... and Real Madrid supporters have always been loyal and affectionate with me. They still cheer for me. A lot of them send me messages and ask for me to return, so I'm left with very good memories of my time there.

And when your fans ask you to come back... what do you say?

I smile and say thanks. I smile because it is very beautiful. Madridistas have always been very affectionate with me, and have cheered me on since day one until today. Now I play on another team but they still support me and wish me luck, and I'm very thankful for that.

Mesut Ozil returning to Real Madrid is a possibility then?

I'm very happy playing at a club of Arsenal's stature, with incredible fans that also cheer a lot. I feel great playing in London, but in the world of football you never know... we'll see what happens in the future.

You've always been an admirer of Zidane. What did you learn from him?

Yes, Zidane has always been an idol of mine. When I was younger, I would watch all his games and I wanted to be like him. He plays the same position and was always someone for me to look up to. When I met him for the first time in Madrid, I was very nervous. Then I calmed down, he showed trust in me and we had a great relationship.

Now your idol is Real Madrid coach. What are your thoughts of him as manager?

I think he is a great coach. He won the Champions League in his first season in charge. It doesn't get any bigger than that! I'm very happy for him because he is a great person and always believed in his abilities as coach. I wish him the best.

What are your thoughts on Saturday's El Clasico?

The whole world wants to watch this match, because it is the biggest in world football. I wish the best of luck to both teams, but obviously I want my ex-teammates and Real Madrid to win.

Do you feel like a madridista?

When I watch Madrid matches, I want them to win, especially in the Champions League. I'm very happy for them. And when they lose, it's true that I'm a bit sad.

Everytime I ask you something about Madrid, you smile!

I'm always smiling! I'm a happy person. But of course, like I mentioned earlier, I spent great moments there.

Tell me the truth. Do you miss Madrid?

I miss the weather. [Laughs]. That sun is... well, it is always sunny. It is what I've been saying. I have great memories there, the club, the city, its people... of course, sometimes you stop and think and well, you miss it. ... Now I'm happy at Arsenal, but you never know what'll happen in the future. We'll see.

Do you regret leaving Madrid? Was it a mistake?

I don't make mistakes. I am happy to have made the decision to embark on an adventure in England, to have grown as a player and person. I'm also very happy to play at a club as big as Arsenal.

Are you a better player now?

I'm more experienced, that's for sure. But I think I've played at a high level for quite some time now. The most important thing is that I'm still happy playing football and to learn from it everyday. I still have a lot to give.

Four years ago, in another MARCA interview, you told us that the dressing room gave you a hard time for not shooting on goal enough. Have you learned to be more selfish?

I don't know...

Don't you think that holds you back on an individual level?

Awards are for those players that score a lot of goals, but I play for the team, not for me. That's how I am and assists are my strong suit. That's how I play! There will be people who like that about me and others that don't, but I can't change that. Of course I like to score goals, but my best quality is different than that. I play in a difficult position, between the lines, where I feel free and happy. It's true that I don't score much, but I do give a lot of assists. That should also be taken into consideration.

Against Ludogorets you scored a great goal...

Yeah. Over the course of my career I've scored some great goals, but this one was special. It is a goal you usually only get to see on Playstation, and it helped us set up the comeback. It might be the best I've ever scored, now that I think about it.

When a player scores a goal such as that one...what's the first thing you think of when it hits the back of the net?

I was happy for our victory, because that was an important goal for us. We were losing 2-0 and ended up winning 2-3. In that moment, the happiness is to have won [and turned the match around]. Then in the dressing room others told me 'what a goal Mesut, what a goal'. It was only then when I realised what I had done. [Laughs]

There is always a lot of talk about what your ideal position is. When rearranging a squad, it is sometimes difficult to find a spot for players like you.

I started playing on the left. Then, since I was good, they started playing me as a striker, but since I didn't score a lot, a coach pushed me further back. So I played as a No. 10, in a free role, which is my favourite position. From there, I adapt to what the match or team demands of me.

Is this the best form of your career?

I think I've always been successful, with some good and some not so good moments. Now I'm in great form and feel good. I hope to stay at this level to help the team reach its goals.

What is missing from Arsenal to win a title? They are always close but they always end up on the cusp of victory.

I think we need to be luckier, in every sense. First, talking about the Champions League, we need to get luckier in terms of the draw. These past few seasons we had Barcelona and Bayern very early on. And even with that, we had our chances, but I think we lacked a bit more confidence against the big teams, especially in those rounds. It is a series of factors but we believe we can make that jump.

Do you really think you can win the Champions League with Arsenal?

I hope so, I think we have a team that can do it. Like I said, we need a bit more luck, but why couldn't we? We have great players.

At the very least, the first goal has already been met: reaching the round of 16.

Yes, and that proves we are doing things the right way and we're on the right path. Arsenal always makes it out of the group stage and now is the time to make that extra step. We're tied with PSG on points, so we'll see if we finish first or second in the group.

The time granted for this interview running out, Mesut Ozil, never losing his smile, reaches out his hand and says his goodbye with a 'see you soon.'