It’s been a while since Mesut Ozil felt fresh and completely rested after an international break, but he should have a spring in his step this weekend.
The World Cup winner has stepped down from the Germany national team and that’s good news for Unai Emery, who hopes that Ozil’s club can reap the rewards of his retirement.
Ozil showed glimpses of his best against Cardiff last time out and Emery is convinced we will see the best of him soon.
“For me it is a new moment, for us and for every player,” said the head coach.
“The reason we are working is to prepare each match with our players to have the possibility to arrive in Newcastle in the best condition for every player. That’s the same for Mesut. He working well. He is OK. I want to push them, I want to be demanding to prepare this match - Mesut the same.
“I want to find with him the possibility to do the best, to make decisive passes, to do more near and in the box to score. Also I think he is working for the team to help us with his quality.
“But he is feeling like I am feeling. He can improve, he can do more. In this process, we will work, we will help him, give him the possibility on the pitch to be together, to find his qualities for us.”
Ozil has been stationed on the right of our attacking quartet this season but Emery believes he can thrive in that role.
“In his career Mesut played like a 10 and on the right, coming inside with his quality,” he said. “Here he has played both. He is very convinced about that in my conversations with him about it. I usually give players the position they feel the best. Mesut is in these two positions.”
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