Recently, Gotze gave an exclusive interview to Bild, discussing his plans for a two-year contract extension with Eintracht Frankfurt, evaluating his former coach Lera, who has since been dismissed, and talking about the German national team and Klopp.

In April this year, you extended your contract with Eintracht Frankfurt until 2028. What can fans expect from you?

My family and I decided to stay in Eintracht Frankfurt after careful consideration. I enjoy life here. I am 34 years old and I know that I need more recovery time than before. But my goal remains clear, which is to continue to help the club and the team on and off the field, with my experience and strong passion.

Many people originally thought you would only renew for one year...

I have always liked to look at things from a long-term perspective. We both know each other's value. In the negotiation process, we clearly discussed what I can bring to the team and what the club can give me.

The new coach Hutter called you immediately after taking office. Was this an important signal for you?

Yes, of course. That was a very good conversation. From his coaching style, speaking style and way of dealing with people—not just with the team—you can feel that he has strong abilities.

What impressed you the most?

His thinking is very clear. The way he talks about things and achieves great results with few words is indeed impressive. I must say, this is a very excellent ability.

Communication did not seem to be the strong point of former coach Lera. Was those four months the craziest experience in your career?

It can be said that it was indeed a very special period. Those four months were very difficult. Many things did not go as we expected - whether it was me personally, the club, or the entire team. But that is in the past, and I don't want to talk about it too much. In the final analysis, football is a result-oriented sport. Since it was not successful, the club quickly and decisively made adjustments. However, I don't think it's appropriate to attribute the responsibility entirely to one person. Everyone should reflect on their own performance, and only in this way can they get better.

After he was dismissed, he made some remarks, roughly to the effect of "just because someone is a FIFA World Cup champion, they can't do whatever they want." Did this make you angry?

I think I have had a good relationship with every coach in my career. If he feels the need to say that, let him say it. However, this statement, let's call it - quite interesting. This seems to imply that we often communicate and know each other well, but this is not the case. If this is his own understanding, then so be it. (laughs)

Was last season just a mistake?

I know ourselves that we could have done much better. We have reviewed that season and moved on from it. Now the most important thing is to look forward and play better this season. If you look back at the past four years, that was undoubtedly the worst year for me personally and for the team.

You have won almost everything, are now a father, and also a successful investor. What drives you now?

I have always had an intrinsic drive to constantly prove myself. Since childhood, I have enjoyed taking on challenges and challenging myself. Of course, I know that my career will not last another ten years, which makes everything even more special. But even at this stage of my career, I still want to tap into my potential and continue to improve myself.

Are you the kind of person who enjoys what you have achieved, or do you immediately look for the next goal?

I think I have changed over the years. In the past, I pursued grand goals, such as winning the Bundesliga title and various trophies. Now, I can also be happy about small things, such as completing a high-quality training session or making a few good performances in a game. I prefer to focus on these rather than always thinking about what goals I want to achieve in a year's time. This change has been very obvious in the past 15 years. Compared to ten years ago, I now enjoy these small successes of my own more.

Many professional players fall into a slump after retirement. Can people prepare for that moment in advance?

I don't think anyone can completely avoid this. It's the same for musicians, actors, or people in other professions. Football has occupied my life for more than 20 years, and when it suddenly ends, everything will change. However, first of all, I am still playing now. Secondly, I have built a very solid foundation that I can rely on - most importantly my family, and also my company, start-up projects, and investments.

Are you afraid of life after retirement?

I wouldn't say I'm afraid, but rather in awe. In the past, there has always been a very clear rhythm: seasons, training, games. Life in the future will be more under my own control. I know I need time to adapt to all of this. Life will definitely change, but I will never be bored. To reiterate: I am still a football player now, and I will continue to play for a while.

Your FIFA World Cup winning teammates Hummels and Thomas Müller have recently received good reviews as TV commentators. Would you consider this path?

I don't think I am suitable for this role. Maybe I will occasionally participate in some special events, such as the FIFA World Cup. But overall, this is not something I want to do long-term. I am more interested in topics around football, finance, and sports economics.

How would you rate the German team's performance in the FIFA World Cup?

I think the team's ability to step up in key moments has, to some extent, been lost. Looking back at 2014, we didn't play every game easily, but we always managed to step up in key moments. In the end, it's enough to just qualify. That's how we did it back then.

Now that your old acquaintance Jurgen Klopp has become the coach of the German national team, many people feel that "everything will get better."

Yes, he is indeed very good at communication. He knows how to motivate people inside and outside the team and ignite everyone's passion, which helps a team a lot. Of course, this does not mean that it will necessarily succeed, but he is indeed very good at things like high-quality training, igniting the team's passion, winning games, and building a truly cohesive team.

In 2009, it was Klopp who gave you your professional debut at Dortmund. As a young player, what did he give you that other coaches couldn't?

If I could only choose one thing, it's that he knew how to deal with me. I was 18 at the time and just entering the professional team. He had that understanding and wisdom, and he knew very well what I needed most at that stage. On the one hand, he was very strict with me; on the other hand, he would let me sit in the stands at the right time to keep me sober. This balance was perfect for me at the time. He knew: "This is a very talented player, but he must not be praised too early." He handled it very well. I benefited from it, he benefited from it, and the team ultimately benefited as well. He is really excellent at managing players, almost perfectly.

Is there any moment that still sticks in your mind?

I will never forget his training intensity. He demanded a lot from players physically and mentally. I remember some training camps had three training sessions a day. But after training, he would also give everyone two or three days off, and then ask us to perform at the highest level again. This balance was very good. Even if we had just won 4-0 on Saturday, if someone wasn't running actively enough in training on Tuesday, he would immediately step up and remind everyone.

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