On the eve of Germany's upcoming UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Spain, Germany's captain Gündoğan attended a press conference to look ahead and answer questions on topics related to the match.
Speaking about club teammate Yamal, Gündoğan spoke highly of him. He said that Yamal has performed well beyond his years and is one of the best of the new generation of players. Gündoğan also made a special reference to his own performances at the age of 16 as a way to set up Yamal's extraordinary talent. He believes that Yamal is not only an important player for the Spanish national team, but also the core of Barcelona for many years to come.
Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Gündoğan emphasized the toughness of the match but also said that the German team will go into the game with confidence. He believes that the match is a showdown between two of the best teams in the tournament and will be a visual feast for the fans. Gündoğan also said that from now on, every game is like a final and Germany will go all out to win.
Regarding the future of his national team career, Gündogan said that he has not thought about it yet. He also hoped that this would not be the last game for teammate Toni Kroos, expressing his expectations for Kroos' future national team career.
Gündoğan showed his tactical intelligence when talking about how to deal with Spain's central player, Rodri. He mentioned that Rodri is one of the best players in the world and it is impossible to completely overpower him for 90 minutes. However, Gündoğan believes that it is possible to influence Rodri's play by making him doubtful in his thinking.
Regarding Germany's poor record against Spain in recent years, Gündoğan said it shows how strong the Spanish team is. He admitted that Spain is indeed a better team than Germany, but also said that Germany will try to change this situation and strive for victory in tomorrow's match.
Gündoğan also emphasized the advantage of the home fans. He referred to the good atmosphere created against Hungary in Stuttgart and believes that this atmosphere will give the German team more motivation, while at the same time potentially unsettling the Spanish team. He believes that the feeling of playing at home will have a positive impact on the German team.
Finally, Gündoğan spoke about his views as a penalty taker. He believes that the pressure of taking penalties in matches is far greater than the simulated situations in training. He emphasized the importance of training routines, such as assisted running and where the ball lands. At the same time, he acknowledged that facing pressure is one of the most difficult things to do and said that anyone who takes responsibility and takes a penalty in such a situation deserves respect.
