FIFA World Cup final hero Mario Gotze reflects on career downfall; claims he needed Jurgen Klopp over Pep Guardiola

Mario Gotze had the world on his feet when he scored the winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final against Germany. Gotze has played for clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in German football.

However, he has arguably played better football at Dortmund. Gotze shone under Jurgen Klopp. But he switched sides to Bayern Munich in 2013, the announcement of which came a few days before the 2012-13 UCL final between Bayern and Dortmund. Gotze has now explained why Klopp was perhaps a better-suited coach for him. He said (via GOAL):

“When it comes to managing people, I was used to Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen, then as now, simply has a great feeling for people and their situation. With Pep [Guardiola], it was all about performance.”

He further added that at Bayern, the ceiling of expectation was high for him. Hence, perhaps a manager like Klopp would have been a better fit for him. He said:

“[It was] because with all the expectations that were placed on me, I needed this one more facet in my life situation.”

Mario Gotze is currently at Eintracht Frankfurt. The 32-year-old was once touted as one of the most talented players in world football. His career, however, didn’t pan out as expected. After a lackluster Bayern stint, Gotze returned to Dortmund before moving to PSV. He has returned to the Bundesliga with Frankfurt.

Also Read: What led Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League final against Dortmund?

Mario Goze reflects on winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Mario Gotze shattered Lionel Messi’s dreams in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final. He scored an extra-time goal to win it for Germany. Gotze scored a spectacular goal and looking back at winning the World Cup, he said (via GOAL):

“It was a liberation. Also a satisfaction because I had played so little during the tournament. Joy, of course. And I still remember: the next season started with the DFB-Pokal. You score that goal and three weeks later you’re on the pitch against third division team Preussen Munster… The discrepancy was pretty stark. You had to get used to it.”

Gotze further claimed that he would have preferred to score such a symbolic goal later in his career. He could then have ridden off to the sunset. Gotze’s career is one of the many examples of what could have been. That, however, would never diminish his talent. Also, he will go down in the history books as a FIFA World Cup-winning goalscorer.

Also Read: Borussia Dortmund have invited Jurgen Klopp to watch tonight’s final