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Ozil Says Declined Prestige Behind Shift From El Clasico To Premier League
- Mesut Ozil stated that FC Barcelona’s current condition has diminished the prestige of El Clasico.
- He highlighted that the peak of the rivalry was during Pep Guardiola’s tenure from 2008 to 2012.
- Ozil added that global attention has shifted to Premier League matches like Liverpool-Manchester City.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Former Real Madrid, Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has stated that the current condition of FC Barcelona has diminished the prestige associated with El Clasico.
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Throughout the years, El Clasico, any match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, has been regarded as one of the most significant fixtures in football due to the historic rivalry between the two teams and the star-studded lineups they often field.
Mesut Ozil, who participated in several El Clásico matches from 2010 to 2013, remarked that the excitement surrounding the encounters between FC Barcelona and his former club has diminished due to Barcelona’s lack of star power.
Ozil, who transferred to Real Madrid from the German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on August 17, 2010, for a fee of €18 million, highlighted that the pinnacle of El Clásico was during the tenure of coach Pep Guardiola, from 2008 to 2012.
Mesut Ozil against Former Barcelona star, Lionel Messi in El Clasico match
In anticipation of the upcoming El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, Ozil informed the Spanish publication Marca that the focus of the world has shifted from the historic game to the Premier League.
“At that time, it was the most important match in world football. Unfortunately for us, Pep’s Barça was perhaps the best in history. It was at another level, certainly different from today’s Barça,” Mesut Ozil said.
“I think that right now worldwide attention is more focused on games like Liverpool-Manchester City or other Premier League duels. Here, I think the Clásico has gone down and that’s a shame.”
He added: “But that’s not Real Madrid’s fault, as they are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the world. The problem is Barça, who have lost potential. Barcelona are struggling; they are trying.
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“They have good players in all positions, but they have had too many injuries this season and maybe they should look a bit more at themselves and their mistakes and stop complaining about the referees all the time.”
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