Can understand doubters
© Imago
Julian Draxler has a differentiated view of his career from the world champion to switching to the Qatarian league. “I found and find my career absolutely horny. But I can already understand when people say: ‘The way it started at the time, maybe there would have been more,’, said the 32-year-old former professional of FC Schalke 04 The” Sport Bild “and confessed:” I already had such thoughts myself. “
In the end, however, he always comes to the same conclusion. “Everything is a good thing as it went. (…) Some big titles have come together and I am extremely happy overall.” He cited his whereabouts at Paris Saint-Germain as an example, although the club Neymar and Lionel Messi hired. If he had gone earlier, “I would not have met my woman today and didn’t get my son,” said Draxler, who has been playing in Katar at Al-Ahli for two years.
The change from Europe to the aspiring league is also good for him. “I can live a totally normal life here, which is probably also due to the culture in Qatar. That sounds banal. But it was very unusual for me at first – and was great fun. (…) Since I started at Schalke at 17, I was immediately in public. I was suddenly unable to go on the street, was constantly addressed and always filmed after the World Cup. I therefore get used to pulling a cap deep in the face and no longer looking into the people in order not to attract attention. He also extended his contract until 2028 because a change was not an issue.
Draxler about Katar change: “Standed his back to the wall in terms of sport”
When asked whether he would have considered the step in 2014 immediately after the world championship, Draxler replied: “I would probably not have believed it. At that time, Qatar and the entire Arab world in football did not play such a big role. And I myself had other goals in 2014. But I would probably not have completely excluded the step after Qatar at the time …” Two years from the big football stage moved to Qatar.
“At the time, I noticed that my time at PSG ends. In the previous season I was awarded Benfica and actually wanted to attack properly – but then I was injured for almost a year. After that, I was sporty with my back to the wall because I no longer played a role in the planning of PSG and I had to think about how I went on. (…) In Paris, I was no longer involved in the season preparation.
Draxler looks back: some decision would have made differently
In retrospect, however, there are also “several moments” in his career, where he might be decided differently today. “When I was still very young on Schalke and extended, I could have going to Arsenal. Honestly, I would be interested in what would have become of me if I had learned from Arsène Wenger so early. I also asked myself what would have been from Wolfsburg to Paris, but to Jürgen Klopp to Liverpool.
With a view to the level and the sporting challenge at Al-Ahli, Draxler, whose former maximum market value of 40 million euros now fell to EUR 3.8 million, said the sheet: “It is no secret that the football level is not the same here as in a top European league. But thanks to players like Marco Verratti or Roberto Firmo, the competition is getting better. This is a really good Bundesliga player in the best footballer age.
“We should raise the level and develop our teams with our experience. In any case, I perceive my role. The clubs already want to see services, otherwise the players can also be replaced very quickly-you can currently see this in Saudi Arabia. The league has a clear concept and sporty charm, because football is getting better and now everyone can beat anyone,” says Draxler, who has continued: “I can now get a stronger attraction. No names, but some good players have already inquired about what they have to do to change here.