Khedira: "Real Madrid has been a lucky break for me"

"Real Madrid has been a lucky break for me". Sami Khedira is one of those players who doesn't hide his good fortune, both making a living playing football and playing at Real Madrid. He says as much on his website, where the German comes out of his shell and shows his more personal side. "My life at Real Madrid is perfect. I feel very much at home in Spain and all I can say is that I’m the luckiest person in the world since I joined this club," Khedira said on his website.

Sami Khedira

The German is enjoying some of his best moments at the club. The fans are taking note of the hard work he does for the team and he knows that he’s always had the backing of his teammates and Mourinho, the man who's shown the most faith in him.

Mourinho predicts a great future for Khedira at Real Madrid: "He has to stay here for many years. Why would a player as intelligent as him want to leave? Sami does amazing things on the pitch and he's mastered his position perfectly".

Khedira: "We are on the right way to success"

Real Madrid will face off against Valencia en Mestalla to battle for a spot in the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) semifinals and the Whites’ midfielder Sami Khedira spoke before the press ahead of the match. “We were in a rough spot. We weren’t doing well. We talked about it together and we’ve seen everything that went wrong. We’ve worked hard these past weeks and I think we’re moving in the right direction. We’re playing well, really tight, and I think it’s going to give us future results”, he said.

Sami Khedira

Real Madrid goes into the match with the balance in their favor after winning the first leg, but Khedira prefers not to think about it: “We’re going to have to start all over as if it were 0-0. We have to show the same aggressiveness to play well and win as we did on Sunday. The last match was for La Liga and this is for the Copa. It’s different and we have to go all out to try and win. We won the first leg 2-0 but it’s not a definitive result. We have to go for a goal there. We haven’t ceded any goals in our last few matches and that makes us stronger. We have to win the match and to do that we have to play on the offense”.

Real Madrid Girlfriends: Lena Gercke (6)

Lena Johanna Gercke, better known as Lena Gercke was born on February 29, 1988 in Marburg, Germany). She is a German fashion model and television host. She was winner of the first cycle of Germany's Next Top Model.

Lena Gercke. Sami Khedira's girlfriend

Gercke was born in Marburg and grew up in Cloppenburg where she attended the Liebfrauenschule Cloppenburg (ULF), a Roman Catholic gymnasium, completing her abitur in 2007. She has a sister and two sisters-in-law, who are her father's daughters.

On August 14, 2004, Gercke won a casting call for fast food chain Burger King. She was represented by Langer-Pueschel who booked her for photoshoots, catwalk shows, and dance performances. At the beginning of 2006, she attended a casting call for Germany's Next Topmodel hosted by Heidi Klum. Upon winning the competition, she received an advertising contract with the fashion label OuiSet, a modeling contract with IMG Models in Paris, the cover shoot for the June 2006 issue of German Cosmopolitan and an advertising contract with Microsoft for Windows Live. She also appeared in magazines such as the American issues of Cosmopolitan, Sports Week, Glamour and on the cover of French Votre Beauté. She was featured in print campaigns of H&M, Mexx and Geox. In 2010 she walked on New York Fashion Week for the Spring season of Custo Barcelona.

After her win, Gercke was always closely associated to Germany's Next Topmodel with making a guest appearance on Cycle 2 and being a backstage host on the live final of Cycle 3 and 6. In 2009 she became the host of Austria's Next Topmodel on which she equaled the role of her former mentor Heidi Klum. The shows fourth season has just been announced with Gercke returning in her role. In June 2011 she was also hosting a special of GNTM called "Die 25 unvergesslichsten Kandidatinnen" (The 25 most unforgettable contestants) for Pro Sieben which featured a ranking list of all six seasons of the show.

Since 2011 her boyfriend is Real Madrid footballer Sami Khedira. The German midfielder posed with her in a tuxedo while she was stark-naked, with his hands covering her breasts (New York Times, March 9, 2012). That cover impressed the football world. Moreover, in recent days, the German Football Federation asked her to go to Eurocup's matches more demure. The couple announced they will marry when Sami Khedira finishes the Euro. She already shows an impressive engagement ring.

Khedira and Gercke (NYT-GQ cover photo)

Link

Real Madrid players at Euro 2012

Real Madrid players have stood out in the European Championship. In the list of the 23 best in the tournament, made by the UEFA Technical Committee, there are eight white players on the team: Casillas, Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano, Pepe, Coentrao, Özil and Khedira. Benzema is not. He did not play his best as well as the France team. Albiol did not play a minute. And Arbeloa, the other Real Madrid player at the Euro 2012, made a couple of great defensive matches against Ribery and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Five Real Madrid players are champions of the Euro 2012

In any way, Real Madrid got ten of the eleven players who started the tournament in the semifinals, the club with more presence in that round. It was also the club with more MVP awards, seven, ahead of Wolfsburg and Barcelona, ​​both with three. Two MVP were achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo (against the Netherlands and Czech Republic), two by Özil (Portugal and Greece) and one by Pepe (Denmark), Xabi Alonso (France) and Ramos (in semifinals against Portugal).

The white players were also the top scorers, tied with Manchester City players, with eight goals scored: Cristiano (three), Xabi Alonso (two), and Pepe, Khedira and Özil (one). Also, Casillas was the goalkeeping record of the tournament. These data confirm the strength of the current project of Real Madrid, led by Mourinho, with which now is expected to reach more titles.

Mesut Özil: "Khedira is a reliable player"

The Real Madrid playmaker, Mesut Özil, talked with the German media and referred to the excellent play by Sami Khedira with the German national team in this Euro 2012 Championship and wanted to distance himself from those who see that Khedira's performance decreases with Real Madrid. "I do not understand the criticism, Sami is a player who regularly plays for the best team in the world. He always plays good, you can trust him one hundred percent" he said.

Khedira and Özil at Euro 2012

"I am proud to play alongside him in the national team and for Real Madrid. Khedira has got a super evolution. About him I also said he is of the best midfielders of the world" said Mesut Özil, who also wanted to highlight the work of Joachim Löw coaching the Germany team: "He is a very good coach. Is one of the best in the world. He could coach Real Madrid? Of course, why not? Has quality to do it" he said.

Besides he does not envisage another future that Real Madrid: "I have still a contract until 2016. I love the city where the sun shines often and I have many friends there. The people are quiet. I do not know what the future holds but I am happy in Madrid" he finished.

Mesut Özil is having a good performance at Euro 2012. He has showed glimpses of his quality. Against Portugal, was named MVP. He gave a recital of football with 42 good passes and only 9 bad. Against the Netherlands he did not play his best but was close to score. Against Denmark had a good performance (55 good passes). In addition, gave an assist. In the last German match, agasint Greece in the quarterfinals, was named again MVP and gave two goal assists.

Khedira: "I have to thank Mourinho"

Khedira

How is your relationship with Jose Mourinho?
Mourinho talks bluntly, he does not care what players do with our spare time, whether we drink beer or we go to bed at two o'clock. All that matters is that we are one hundred percent in training. It's like children: if you do not allow them to do something, they will try to do it with more interest. You learn to be responsible for your actions, and that is important for taking decisions in the field.

Are you a leader?
As a teenager I always wanted to play well, give everything and go home. I was never one of those who give speeches on the field. But my coaches asked me that and I am gradually growing in that too. And I enjoy it.

What about tactics?
As a teenager I played in the Stuttgat youth squad, our coach at that time, who is still my friend, said: "If you learn to read the game, you will be able to become professional. Go see Stuttgart and check the Zvonimir Soldo's game". And that's when I realized that as a player, I would be able to lead a match.

And have you improved at Real Madrid?
I have learned how to face a game. When I was younger I saw a free space and pressed ten or fifteen times in the same way. Now I prepare mentally for a particular opponent and I know when I can go to press and leave my position without endangering my team. I am better prepared, and I have to thank Mourinho.

How does Mourinho teach you?
In individual conversations or in the field. Sometimes in training he says: "Stop! Why do you leave your position? Why are you leaving now?". Often, I watch my games two times and check players like Xabi and then try to improve my game.

Are you improving intuition?
Yes, the experience gives you this. You are able to make decisions more quickly. It's like learning a language. At first, you have to consider carefully the words you use, how to put together a sentence. Then, at some point, everything goes smoothly.

Football changes over time, before the 6 was the ordinary defensive midfielder...
Yes, they only cared to get the ball and not about score goals. I like to win in defense fights, but also get forward. To put it bluntly, in the German team, the central defenders are responsible for creating the game, and Klose and Gomez are also defending. That's the idea.

Squad: Sami Khedira (24)

Sami Khedira

Defensive midfielder Sami Khedira (Stuttgart, Germany, 1987) had his coming out party during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, during which he was one of the most outstanding players on the German national team. The new Real Madrid signing played seven matches and scored what proved to be the third-place clinching goal against Uruguay. One year earlier, Khedira captained the German Under-21 side to the European Championship title.

Khedira is a dynamic midfielder who can cover a lot of ground and can quickly join in attack after recovering the ball from the opponent. Standing at 189 centimeters, he has flawless aerial technique and a powerful mid-range shot.

Born to a German mother and Tunisian father, Khedira came into this world in Stuttgart, Germany in 1987. After initially playing for TV Oeffingen, he joined the VfB Stuttgart academy at the age of eight. He slowly climbed his way up through the ranks until earning his first team debut on 1 October 2006 against Hertha BSC. A couple weeks later he scored his first two Bundesliga goals against Shalke 04 and Stuttgart would eventually go on to win the league title. Prior to his arrival in the Spanish capital, Khedira scored 14 goals in 98 total matches with the German side.

Sami Khedira has also had a successful run on an international level. In 2009 he captained Germany's Under-21 side to the European Championship titles. He debuted with the senior side two months later and has earned a third-place finish in the World Cup. In less than a year he notched 12 caps for Germany.

Data

• Place of Birth: Stuttgart, Germany
• Date of Birth: 04/04/1987
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 81 kg
• Height: 189 cm
• Nationality: German

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• Bundesliga: 2006/07
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2009

German player: Title earned

It seems that the next Real Madrid signings will return to German origin denomination, although in their veins run Turkish blood of their families (in fact, both play with the Turkish national team). Sahin and Altintop, both born in the territory of Germany, will increase the German lineage in Real Madrid.

In recent years, Metzelder went unnoticed and Özil, by far, justified the fifteen million euros were paid to Werder Bremen for his signing. With his quality has managed to forget Guti and many people have considered that the usual absences of Kaka, due to injury, have been minimized thanks to a strong performance of German international. Do not forget that Özil arrived in Madrid after his stunning World Cup in South Africa.

The curious thing about this German "flow" is that Madrid went on to win at least one title in each season in which was reinforced by a German player. Netzer, a blonde who came in his last time as a player, opened the way for the Germans in the summer of 1973. Then came Breitner, the evergreen Stielike, Schuster (as talented as controversial), Illgner, the goalkeeper of the Seventh European Cup and Metzelder. With Özil and Khedira has remained the good luck and team has won the "Copa del Rey". With Sahin and Altintop, the list of Germans will be ten.

Özil and Khedira

Özil
Only 22 years old and in Sevilla played his 50th match with the Madrid, where is already the king of assists (22) ahead of Di Maria (19) and Cristiano (10). His left foot and great vision of play dazzle the fans. Just needs more physical, but he is a potential "crack".

Khedira
Just turned 24 years, this German with Tunisian father has earned the confidence of Mourinho, but not the Bernabeu fans. He came endorsed by the great World Cup and the Portuguese coach made ​​him a starter in the Spanish Cup final and the big games of the season ahead of Lass.

Metzelder
He came to Madrid as one of the most promising central defenders of Germany and could even play on the left side despite his height (1.94 m). But nothing to do with reality. He was hooking injury after another until play only 30 games in three seasons with the white team. Cristophe went Schalke as came, free.

Illgner
Capello got his way. Buyo, too short for his taste and Canizares, with little experience, were not worth. He arrived at the age of 29, with a reputation for sober and with a very attractive wife who was also his manager. In Madrid won a League title, two European Cups and one Intercontinental. And while, appeared a young man called to make history: Iker Casillas.

Schuster
He could read the game in the field and then execute a plan with great precision. Mendoza took advantage of a crisis of German player at Barcelona after eight years there, to sign him and stir the controversy between the teams. Two seasons later went on to Atletico.

Stielike
Sacrifice and power in midfield. Madrid was coming off one of its worst seasons (76-77): ninth in the League, eliminated in the second round of the Champions League and in third round of the Spanish Cup. Bernabéu decided to turn with Wolf, Juanito and Stielike and the team resurfaced. He raised four League titles, two Spanish Cups and one UEFA Cup. He was signed to replace Breitner.

Breitner
He was the Santiago Bernabeu's response to the emergence of Cruyff at Barcelona. Bernabeu asked his staff what German player they liked more in World Cup 74 and signed Breitner. Madrid won the League and the Spanish Cup in his fierst season. Breitner was an "industrial" midfielder.

Netzer
Bernabéu fell in love with his cerebral play at Euro 1972. He "jumped" to Madrid from Moenchengladbach, which also exported Simonsen Jensen and Stielike to Spain. With 28 years became the first German to play in the Spanish league. He won the Spanish Cup in his first year in white.

Khedira hopes to play again this season?

The German international and Real Madrid player, Sami Khedira, thinks now that the season is not over for him, despite the muscle tear he suffered in the Spanish Cup final, and works for a speedyrecovery to play, eventually, in the final of the Champions League: "I will do my best to be ready as soon as possible", said the player in his Facebook profile.

"I hope to be able to participate in a possible final of the Champions League. Let's see what happens", continued the player, who was injured in overtime on Wednesday match against Barcelona last week. Initially, Khedira assumed that the season was over for him and, although obviously he will not play in the first leg of the semifinal tomorrow, now believes that he is not ruled out to participate in the second leg match on May 3, at Camp Nou Stadium.

The German international was treated in Munich of his tear by the German national team doctor Dr. Müller Wohlfart, an authority in this area. "We will decide among all, the doctors of Real Madrid and the German doctor, when I can play again", said Sami Khedira.

Khedira hopes to play again this season

Sami Khedira out for the rest of the season

Sami Khedira will miss the rest of the season. In lack of official confirmation by Real Madrid, the German midfielder's injury in his hamstring is more serious than it seems. So much that Jose Mourinho will be deprived of the midfield player in the remainder of the season. "The season is finished for me", confirmed the player.

Khedira finished injured the final of the "Copa del Rey" disputed between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Wednesday. In fact, Germany player had to be replaced by Esteban Granero just moments after the goal of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yesterday, Khedira traveled to Munich to be examined by Dr. Müller Wohlfart, a doctor of his choice. And while still lacking the official confirmation of Real Madrid, his hamstring injury is more severe than expected. Undoubtedly a setback for Mourinho, who is in the German midfielder a man of his confidence.

The player himself, after leaving the clinic where he was examined, expressed his pessimism. "I am very frustrated. It is a very hard time for me", he said in comments reported by German media. Khedira will miss the two matches against Barcelona, corresponding to the semifinals of the Champions League, and the six matches remaining in the League. Khedira forced to play the Spanish Cup Final after leaving the training the day before when he had only been ten minutes into the session.

Khedira will miss the rest of the season

Khedira dressed as a bullfighter for the 'Sport Bild' magazine

Sami Khedira surprised with a bullfighter dress for the weekly magazine Sport Bild. In a very personal interview (it is a serial of Germans playing outside the country), midfielder reveals some details of the Real Madrid dressing room. He admits that comes out with Cristiano Ronaldo and Mourinho encourages him. He talked about how he sees Spain: "The mentality is different. The Spanish are proud people. I had to get used to things like eating out or how are the people".

Khedira dressed as "Torero"

He talked about peer relations: "We often go out together. Gago and Marcelo have invited me. The players live out of town and do barbecues in the garden. Team meals are six to eight weeks. We go to basketball. The last time was against Olympiakos. I was with Marcelo, Pepe and Cristiano".

He said about the fitness of Özil: "He quickly integrated. The World Cup helped us. There were players with foreign roots. It showed that the Germans are open to new things" He talked about himself and Mourinho: "We have good tactical training. I got better in the air. For many people, Mourinho is serious and arrogant, but he is human and respectful. He works hard and put balance between fun and work".

He also made an allusion to Stielike: "For people he was the most important German who played in Madrid. He is more recognized here than in Germany".