Abroad, several German football professionals are stuck at home during the coronavirus crisis. What is the situation like with Özil, Gündogan or Kroos? And what does a Berliner do at the newly founded Beckham Club Inter Miami?
London (dpa) - Championship dreams are in danger, hot title fights are on hold. Because of the corona virus pandemic, the game is suspended in most soccer leagues around the world. The professionals have to keep fit at home until further notice and pass the time cooking or playing the piano.
LEROY SANÉ (England, Manchester City):
After months of injury due to a cruciate ligament injury, Leroy Sané had just made his comeback on the pitch. At the end of February it was used in the Manchester City U23. When he will play for the first team of the English champions again is open. Coach Pep Guardiola said it would take weeks. The corona virus crisis is now months away. A move to Bayern in summer, which until recently was considered likely, is apparently no longer an issue. According to a "kicker" report, the trend in Munich is now clearly against Sanés' obligation.
MESUT ÖZIL (England, Arsenal FC):
In the middle of the coronavirus crisis, Mesut Özil surprised with good news. The Arsenal midfielder and his wife Amine announced the birth of their first child on social media. To this end, they published a photo together with their daughter Eda. The forced break in the English Premier League should not bother him too much. In terms of sport, things went uphill for Özil after turbulent times. However, he still occupies only tenth place in the table with the Gunners.
ILKAY GÜNDOGAN (England, Manchester City):
For Ilkay Gündogan, coffee and face time are "two necessary things" in this difficult time. This revealed the professional from the English champion Manchester City on Instagram. He and his team occupy second place in the table, but 25 points behind Liverpool FC. Given this unachievable backlog, Gündogan told the ZDF sports studio that it would be "only fair" if the Reds were awarded the Premier League title if the season could not be over due to the corona virus. The goal of the Premier League clubs, however, is to continue in the summer.
ANTONIO RÜDIGER (England, Chelsea FC):
With Chelsea FC, Antonio Rüdiger recently headed for the Champions League. From the isolation, the defender posted a video showing him juggling with toilet paper. Numerous soccer stars took part in the challenge. Antonio Rüdiger also supports the "WeKickCorona" initiative launched by Bundesliga professionals Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich. "Together we must now isolate our toughest opponent," wrote Rüdiger. The fact that he has to stay at home until further notice also has a positive side for the 27-year-old: he has plenty of time for his wife and son, who was born in February.
TONI KROOS (Spain, Real Madrid):
Toni Kroos keeps his followers on social media happy with daily challenges, where there is also something to be won. The world champion of 2014 and multiple Champions League winner from Real Madrid publish the best videos on his account. But sometimes Kroos also finds clear words. So he called for compliance with the precautionary measures and warned the "incorrigible" who still go out. "Please leave it, stay home!" He said. "This only lengthens this whole situation and is extremely dangerous for everyone belonging to this risk group." With Real he is two points behind rival FC Barcelona.
MARC-ANDRÉ TER STEGEN (Spain, FC Barcelona):
National goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen misses football. With FC Barcelona he is the frontrunner in the Spanish league. With eleven games remaining, nothing is decided yet. Only two points separate the championship leader Real Madrid. "It is difficult, especially in the most important phase of the season, to retreat and hold on to yourself," said ter Stegen to the online portal "Spox". The 27-year-old keeps in shape with a fitness app. It was announced on Monday that ter Stegen and his teammates at Barça temporarily waived 70 percent of their salary.
SAMI KHEDIRA (Italy, Juventus Turin):
Until the league stop, leaders Juventus Turin in Serie A fought a hot race with Lazio Rome. The "old lady" is only one point ahead. Former world champion Sami Khedira has not been there since December because of knee surgery. He had only recently returned to team training. The 32-year-old apparently used the renewed football-free time to teach himself to play the piano. A video on Twitter shows Khedira on the keys. "The result of two days," he wrote.
JULIAN DRAXLER (France, Paris Saint-Germain):
With Paris Saint-Germain, Julian Draxler confidently leads the French Ligue 1 table. The 26-year-old spends isolation with his girlfriend, the dancer Sethanie Taing. To pass the time, the former Schalke gamers on the Internet with his buddies Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac "Fortnite" and is active in the kitchen. "In order to stay fit in social distancing, I don't just train at home, I also like to cook healthy and fresh food," Draxler wrote on Instagram and posted a video.
ROBIN GOSENS (Italy, Atalanta Bergamo):
A few weeks ago, Robin Gosens and Atalanta Bergamo celebrated the quarter-finals of the Champions League. When or whether the 25-year-old contests the next round in the premier class has long been irrelevant because of the pandemic that hit Italy particularly hard. "I love Italy," wrote Gosens, who is a candidate for the German national team, now on Instagram. "In this difficult time, my thoughts are with all Bergamaschi and all Italians in general. Only together can we fight the virus!" Atalanta is currently fourth in Serie A.
ALEXANDER BAUMJOHANN (Australia, Sydney FC):
Alexander Baumjohann was just about to win the Australian championship with Sydney FC before the football season was stopped down under. "Of course there are a lot more important things than football now, it is best that league operations have been stopped," said the 33-year-old to the "kicker". "But the time is extremely unfortunate for us." Baumjohann, who has already played for Glabach, Schalke, Bayern and Hertha in the Bundesliga, hopes that the season will not be stopped, but will eventually be played out. "This year's work should be recognized."
BENEDIKT HÖWEDES (Russia, Moscow locomotive):
Benedikt Höwedes is currently second in the table with Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, where play will be suspended until at least May 31. Höwedes criticized in his column on the online portal t-online.de just two weeks ago that the training was continuing. The players are now self-isolated. From a distance, the 2014 world champion participates in the "WeKickCorona" initiative. "Stay healthy, stay at home and take part," wrote Höwedes on Twitter.
TIMO BAUMGARTL (Netherlands, PSV Eindhoven)
Timo Baumgartl spends the time of isolation on the instructions of his club in Eindhoven. "My Labrador Jimmy is pleased that I am now at home more often," said the 24-year-old in an interview with Sport1. He apparently doesn't mind quarantine in the Netherlands. "I have a house with a garden here, we have space. At least I can still move freely here. That would not be the case in my home country." With PSV Eindhoven, Baumgartl takes fourth place in the Dutch Eredivisie.
JEROME KIESEWETTER (USA, Inter Miami):
The Inter Miami soccer club, founded by superstar David Beckham, was only able to play two games in the American MLS before the soccer break began in the United States. Inter-professional Jerome Kiesewetter reported to the German press agency about hamster purchases in Miami. The native of Berlin was also shocked by the weapons purchases by some Americans. Like all professionals, Kiesewetter stays fit at home. The interruption is like a second preparation for him. "You are waiting for the go, which may take longer than expected," said the 27-year-old, "but as you know, health is not to be messed with."
Column by Benedikt Höwedes
Piano video by Sami Khedira
Toilet paper video by Antonio Rüdiger
Instagram account of Toni Kroos
Instagram message from Ilkay Gündogan
Instagram photo by Mesut Özil