Mesut Özil is eagerly awaiting the final spurt of the season in the Bundesliga. In the championship race between FC Bayern and Dortmund, the world champion does not begrudge BVB the title.
Munich – The Bundesliga championship is closer than it has been for a long time. Who will win the trophy – FC Bayern or Borussia Dortmund? Ex-national player Mesut Özil is also eagerly following the title race, while the ex-Schalke player is teasing BVB.
| Mesut Özil | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 15 October 1988 (aged 34 years), Gelsenkirchen |
| Stages: | Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, FC Arsenal, Fenerbahce, Basaksehir |
| Greatest successes: | World Cup winner (1), Spanish champion (1), FA Cup winner (4), DFB Cup winner (1), European Under-21 champion (1) |
Championship race between FC Bayern and BVB: Mesut Özil makes a commitment
With three games to go before the end of the season, Bayern are just one point ahead of Dortmund. As of now, the decision for the German championship could only be made on the last matchday. BVB has the chance to break Munich's dominance after a decade. However, Mesut Özil would not begrudge Dortmund the title.
"Nope. I have to stay true to my blue roots," Özil referred to his homeland in an interview with the WAZ. The reason is obvious. Özil was born in Gelsenkirchen and took his first steps as a professional with Dortmund's great Ruhrpott rivals Schalke 04 before moving out into the big wide world and becoming world champion with Germany in 2014. His last game for the Royal Blues was 15 years ago, but Gelsenkirchen means home to him, even if his family is more often with him in Istanbul than he is in the Ruhr area.
Mesut Özil does not begrudge BVB the league title. © Gerrit van Keulen/Ulrich Wagner/Imago
FC Bayern or Dortmund? Özil does not begrudge BVB the league title
However, Özil also stressed that it would be good for the Bundesliga "that there is another champion". But it shouldn't necessarily be BVB. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old also has praise for Dortmund.
"BVB are playing a bit more convincingly," said Özil, who also referred to the rest of Bayern and BVB's programme. The Bavarians still have to compete against strong Leipzig. That's why "everything is open, really very exciting," said the former Real Madrid and Arsenal star, looking forward to an exciting final spurt in the championship race. Özil does not begrudge Dortmund the title, so from his point of view there will be no pot pact against FC Bayern, but he is keeping his fingers crossed for his Schalke team in the relegation battle.
Özil keeps his fingers crossed for former club Schake in relegation battle
"It's really great how the boys have freed themselves," said Özil. "I don't even want to imagine anything other than saving Schalke, who have been beaten off in the meantime," said the former midfielder, who also warned: "Schalke must not become an elevator team now." A bargaining chip for staying in the league are the S04 fans.
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"It feels like Schalke were still playing in the Champions League yesterday and now staying in the league would be a huge success," Özil recalls. The Royal Blues could not be "grateful enough" to their supporters, this support in the precarious situation was "definitely not a matter of course".
World champion Özil has ended his career
Özil, who also played in the Bundesliga for Werder Bremen and the top international clubs Real Madrid and Arsenal London, was most recently under contract in Turkey with Istanbul Basaksehir. He played 92 international matches for Germany and won the title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In March, Özil had ended his career, the DFB was absent from the thanksgiving of the world champion. (ck)
