Mesut Ozil, the chief playmaker at Arsenal FC spent time alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, and he has now spoken about the difference between his style and that of the Portuguese attacker.
German midfielder Mesut Ozil spent three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu before signing for Arsenal in 2013 for a reported transfer fee of £42.5 million. During his stint at Real, he shared the dressing room with some of the biggest names in football, including one of the best players in the world Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ozil is currently in France with the German national team, who are preparing for their semi-final against France, while the other game features his former teammate Ronaldo’s Portugal take on Wales.
In a recent interview with French publication L’Equipe, Ozil stated that he is a quality player, but couldn’t match the Portuguese’s hunger for goals.
“I am a perfectionist on the pitch as well. I want to be successful with everything I do,” said the 27-year-old.
“During the time I played alongside Ronaldo, I saw that he always wanted to win everything, even on the training pitch. He is never satisfied and always wants more. He always wants more titles and there are not a lot of players with that attitude.
“Personally, I am not as hungry for goals like Ronaldo. But that’s only normal. He is an attacker. For me, scoring goals and providing assists is the same. They both win you matches.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was left frustrated when Ozil made the move to Arsenal, stating that the German was the one who best knew his moves in front of goal. This perhaps best illustrates the difference between the two players. While the former is a clinical finisher and goal-scoring machine, the latter is a playmaker who is more intent on creating chances than scoring himself. At Real Madrid the German scored 26 goals in three seasons, but notched up a whopping 60 assists.
Ozil has carried on in the same vein at Arsenal, scoring 20 goals but 41 assists in his three seasons at the club so far. The assist king, as he has come to be regarded, came very close to breaking the all-time Premier League record for assists this past season. He fell just one short of Gunners legend Thierry Henry’s tally of 20. The onus will now be on him to provide the creative impetus in the blockbuster Euro 2016 semi-final between Germany and France.
Mesut Ozil, the chief playmaker at Arsenal FC spent time alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, and he has now spoken about the difference between his style and that of the Portuguese attacker.
German midfielder Mesut Ozil spent three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu before signing for Arsenal in 2013 for a reported transfer fee of £42.5 million. During his stint at Real, he shared the dressing room with some of the biggest names in football, including one of the best players in the world Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ozil is currently in France with the German national team, who are preparing for their semi-final against France, while the other game features his former teammate Ronaldo’s Portugal take on Wales.
In a recent interview with French publication L’Equipe, Ozil stated that he is a quality player, but couldn’t match the Portuguese’s hunger for goals.
“I am a perfectionist on the pitch as well. I want to be successful with everything I do,” said the 27-year-old.
“During the time I played alongside Ronaldo, I saw that he always wanted to win everything, even on the training pitch. He is never satisfied and always wants more. He always wants more titles and there are not a lot of players with that attitude.
“Personally, I am not as hungry for goals like Ronaldo. But that’s only normal. He is an attacker. For me, scoring goals and providing assists is the same. They both win you matches.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was left frustrated when Ozil made the move to Arsenal, stating that the German was the one who best knew his moves in front of goal. This perhaps best illustrates the difference between the two players. While the former is a clinical finisher and goal-scoring machine, the latter is a playmaker who is more intent on creating chances than scoring himself. At Real Madrid the German scored 26 goals in three seasons, but notched up a whopping 60 assists.
Ozil has carried on in the same vein at Arsenal, scoring 20 goals but 41 assists in his three seasons at the club so far. The assist king, as he has come to be regarded, came very close to breaking the all-time Premier League record for assists this past season. He fell just one short of Gunners legend Thierry Henry’s tally of 20. The onus will now be on him to provide the creative impetus in the blockbuster Euro 2016 semi-final between Germany and France.