On the eve of Germany's upcoming UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Spain, Germany captain Gündoğan spoke to the media, looking ahead to the upcoming battle and sharing his thoughts on his opponents and teammates.
Facing Spain, who are regarded as the top favorites to win the title, Gündoğan expressed his full respect: "So far, Spain is undoubtedly the best performing team at this year's Euros. Their technique, passing and ball control are all impressive, which is a reality we must face up to."
Speaking about how to deal with the mighty Spanish side, Gündoğan showed Germany's tactical flexibility: "We will first observe how they react in the game, especially when we control the ball for a while. From my personal experience, if you've played under a coach like Pep Guardiola, you understand the importance of playing without the ball. If the opponent is not used to being without the ball, then we have an opportunity to exploit." He emphasized the need for Germany to be flexible and adapt their tactics to the realities of the game.
Responding to the threat of Spain's wingers Yamal and Niko Williams, Gündoğan said, "They are very good players, but we can't rely on one player alone to defend them. We have to rely on the defense as a whole and also force them to put more effort on the defensive end. It's going to be an all-out battle and we have to find ways to stop them."
Speaking about the young talent in the German team, Musiala, Gündoğan spoke highly of him: "As far as technical ability is concerned, Musiala is one of the best players we have at the moment. He knows exactly what he is capable of and the players and coaches recognize him. I personally like him, not only is he technically brilliant, but he is also subtle and kind." Gündoğan's words have certainly injected more confidence and motivation into Musiala.
