No thoughts about leaving Arsenal
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Returnee Kai Havertz (26) is almost back in top form after his bad luck with injuries and wants to play a key role at the World Cup in the summer. “I bring one or two games of experience with me and hope, when it comes to the tournament, to march up front and help the boys to deliver the best possible performance on the pitch,” said the national player at the press conference before the start of the World Cup year this Friday (8.45 p.m. / RTL) with a test match in Basel against Switzerland.
Havertz, who had already struggled with a thigh injury last spring, initially missed more than half of the season due to a knee injury. Then the 26-year-old had muscle problems. However, he has been used regularly since March, including in the two Champions League round of 16 games against his former club Bayer Leverkusen. In the 1-1 draw in the first leg, Havertz saved the draw for the English favorites with a penalty kick in stoppage time. “It was a difficult time that I have had,” admitted Havertz. But he now feels “very, very good” again. But he also knows that he needs a few more games over 90 minutes in order to finally be able to build on his old performance levels.
The former Leverkusen player played the last of his 55 international matches in November 2024 in a 1-1 draw against Hungary. He wants to use his flexibility again in the DFB jersey (“I feel very comfortable in almost all positions offensively”) and his experience. “I think everyone knows that I’m not a loud player who gives big speeches in the dressing room. But there are also players who lead the way with their performance – and I’m one of them.”
Does Arsenal want to get rid of Kai Havertz?
When asked about rumors that he might be considered a candidate for transfer to Arsenal due to his injury history, Havertz answered with confidence. He hasn’t heard of it yet, and he also feels “right at home” with the Gunners “and I think everyone is satisfied and happy with me.” The Londoners signed him from city rivals Chelsea FC in 2023 for 75 million euros. Since then he has scored 32 goals and assisted 15 more in 101 games. His contract is valid until 2028. Recently, however, he also received a devaluation to 50 million euros in the Premier League’s market value update due to injury. This is the lowest level in eight years.
Kimmich defends Rüdiger: No “stomach ache”
DFB captain Joshua Kimmich (31) has meanwhile taken his teammate’s side in the discussion about the appearance and style of play of Antonio Rüdiger (33). “I sometimes have the feeling that we in Germany forget what Toni has achieved in the last three or four years.” Rüdiger is “an undisputed regular player at Real Madrid, he is in the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals every year. We don’t have many of them in our squad, if we are to be completely honest,” said Kimmich about the central defender’s sporting merits.
Rüdiger recently had to fend off criticism again. Opponent Diego Rico (33) from Getafe FC accused the 33-year-old of intentionally trying to seriously injure him with a foul in the league game. This accusation was vehemently denied by the top German defender. “If you look at the pictures in slow motion, of course, it looks bad. I don’t want to downplay that,” said Rüdiger. “The way he talked after the game, you’d think I killed him.”
Nagelsmann: Rüdiger protects “national team family”
Rüdiger also received support from national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “What I can say is that Antonio is incredibly committed to the national team. That he is someone who is extremely protective of the national team family and does everything to ensure that we are successful,” said the DFB head coach.
Last year, the Berlin native was also criticized by the DFB leadership after he threw a cooling pad at the referee in the Clásico against FC Barcelona. “I like to play hard. But I also have limits,” Rüdiger defended himself after the latest scene with Getafe opponent Rico. The vice-captain now wants to lead the way in the DFB team. “I don’t want to be a source of unrest, but rather provide stability and security. The discussion shows me once again that I have a responsibility that I have not lived up to in some moments,” he told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”. After a long injury break, Rüdiger is currently only considered a substitute central defender in the DFB team behind Jonathan Tah (30) and Nico Schlotterbeck (26).
For Kimmich, Rüdiger can be a decisive factor at the World Cup. “He is simply someone who has proven very, very often that he can perform at the highest level, and that is extremely important for a team to have players like that,” assured Kimmich. “Toni is of course a very important player for us.” You “never have to have pain” when he plays. In Nagelsmann’s current squad, Kimmich has played the most DFB appearances with 106 international matches and Rüdiger with 81.
