There is no such thing as a small game anymore claims Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil sure has had a lot to say in his interview with the Athletic and he has come out strongly defending his position.
He has already hit back at critics claiming he feigns injury and made it clear he is not going anywhere in January.
Now, you can add not turning up for the big games as another accusation he is vigorously defending.
‘It always happens that an ex-player stands there on TV and criticises me,” Ozil said. “Others just continue the theme and it gets in everyone’s heads.
‘If we don’t do well in a ‘big’ game, it’s always my fault. If that’s true, how do you explain our results in the ‘big’ games when I wasn’t involved? There’s no real difference. I know people expect me to offer more, dictate play and make the difference — I do, too — but it’s not that straightforward.
‘I’m not the only player in the team and, don’t forget, some of our opponents are simply better than us. Also, what is a ‘big’ or ‘small’ game? In the Premier League, anyone can beat anyone. Look at Wolves and Norwich beating Man City, or Newcastle and West Ham beating Man United.
‘So you can’t say my good performances only came in ‘small’ games because these games don’t really exist. The intensity is there in every match and often the ‘small’ teams raise their standard against the ‘big’ teams.’
What can one say to that? Well, for starters there are big and small teams. Barcelona are a big team, Watford is not, it really is that simple.
Ozil misses out the context, he is paid a huge wage to turn up for those big games, to be the difference. If you are on £20k a week then you can maybe get away with going awol but not on £350k per week.
You cannot get away from the wage and the reason is simple, it reflects what the club expects from him.
Big players turn up for the big games, those that do not are basically stealing a living.
Up to the individual to choose which category Ozil belongs in.