Mario Götze: Clear criticism of the then BVB coach Favre

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In the course of the past season, Roger Schmidt asked himself a question: How can it be that such an extraordinary professional as Mario Götze doesn't get any playing times?

The former shooting star of the league had degenerated into a marginal figure at Borussia Dortmund, now and then in the squad, but often not even that. Only 514 minutes of playing time was given to the 2014 World Cup hero in the league by his coach Lucien Favre, it is this is the work log of a player on the siding.

Schmidt is the coach of PSV Eindhoven, at the time he was trying to put together a squad for this season.

Early in the summer he had deposited his interest with Gotze without seriously figuring out any opportunities.

So he told it in the magazine "11 Freunde".

Towards October, however, there was unexpected movement in the matter.

Götze had negotiated with Italian clubs, but then surprisingly turned to Eindhoven.

What seemed impossible suddenly became possible.

Schmidt says it was a question of timing and "the personal relationship between us", "that when we both sat together, we quickly had the feeling that it could work."

"If he feels trust, he gives it back very quickly"

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Schmidt was sure it would work. That Götze, if he made the transfer to Eindhoven with full conviction, could build on old achievements again. He should be right. The 28-year-old is now one of the pillars of the team. Götze came to the realization that a close relationship with the coach is central to his development. He felt that perhaps more than some exceptional talent, he needs a bonus of trust in order to be able to shine.

He got that from Schmidt.

Which was easy for him, as the coach now says.

Götze “is a communicative guy you like to talk to, not just about football.

I told him from the start that he could expect the maximum support and trust from me and that I would try everything to get him back in top form.

When he feels that, he gives back the trust very quickly ”.

Schmidt also says that in Germany “people tend to underestimate what a complete player he is.

Mario plays super passes, often the last, decisive ones, too.

But he is also very reliable tactically, can read the game, is always on the move and works a lot on the field ”.

At some point during the season Götze was disaffected

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Götze himself chalked his former coach Favre in the magazine that he did not proceed according to the performance principle in the line-up for the games.

The Swiss was released in Dortmund in mid-December 2020 and had taken over the team from Thomas Tuchel in the summer of 2018.

"In the last two years at Borussia, from my point of view, there was no performance culture that was exclusively designed for performance," says Götze.

Even a conversation with the 63-year-old didn't change that.

"He said that he doesn't believe that I can help the team and that he has no position for me, which basically made little sense for me and was more of an excuse," said Götze.

He was disaffected, he shows that.

“The big phase in such bitter phases: Is it worth it to indulge in frustration?

Or should I concentrate on what I can influence myself?

If a coach doesn't appreciate what I'm doing, I can't change it.

Do I want to rub it off or should I turn to what is good for me and my family? "

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This is one of the reasons why he turned to Eindhoven.

PSV is a top club in the Netherlands, but more provincial compared to Götze's Profivita and general perspective.

In the end, it was realized "with funds that are extreme for PSV, but manageable compared to what Mario had before," explains Schmidt.

But Götze did not contest it, so he tells it. Dutch champions instead of Champions League triumphs, that should be enough. He used to think “a lot about titles because it was tangible,” he said. In the meantime, however, he wants to “make the right decisions and be happy in the environment in which I am”. For him it is no longer a question of “repeating something that I have already achieved, but rather developing myself as an athlete and enjoying the game”.

Ultimately, says Götze, he just wanted to go back to the field. Schmidt intended him to play the central role at PSV. The stage is a bit smaller, but the performance is reminiscent of the young Götze, who once caused a lot of applause and admiration at Dortmund: 16 league games, five goals, four assists - and above all 1231 minutes on the pitch.