Dani Olmo (Terrassa, 7-5-1998) is the 10th in Spain. He is the most charismatic number in the history of football. Bundesliga star since he arrived from Dinamo de Zagreb To defend the RB Leipzig shirt, Dani awaits the Stuttgart clash with sharp fangs.
In the German team he has friends, teammates, weekly rivals and an important coach in his career. Because Julian Nagelsmann He was the coach who welcomed him in Germany when he arrived in the Bundesliga in January 2020. One more link in the face of the Stuttgart clash, the door to a semi-finals that Dani Olmo He already knows from the inside, because he was the main protagonist of the Wembley match three years ago.
At home, his girlfriend, Laura Ablaborn in Berlin, faces a dilemma
ASK. How do you experience the game at home?
ANSWER. At home I hope he goes with Spain. Otherwise, be careful! [risas] I am lucky that my family has been able to come to almost all the games. They will also be against Germany, like a good group of friends. That motivates more.
Q. And what do your German friends say to you?
R.They play in Germany. It will be nice to see them and play against them.
Q. David Raum, your teammate in Leipzig, said that he had blocked Dani Olmo these days.
R. [Ríe de nuevo] Nothing. It was a joke. We have a good relationship.
Q. For the Germans, their selection is something supreme.
R. And even more so with the Euro Cup being played at home. It is almost an obligation for them to win it. But we are going to continue doing our thing, which is going very well.
Q. What does today’s German player think of Spanish football?
R. Respect and admiration. He feels that they are quality players, with a lot of touch, that he always wants to dominate. In Germany I have always felt a lot of respect for the Spanish player.
In Germany there is respect and admiration for the Spanish footballer
Q. Does Dani Olmo feel more valued in Germany than in Spain?
R. I do not feel like it. Here they may know me more, because I have not played in the Spanish League. In Spain they only see me with the national team. But I don’t feel undervalued in Spain at all.
Q. Do you share with Nico Williams that there is no team like Spain in this Euro if we talk about collective play?
R. I agree. In the way we play, confidence and security are transmitted in the group. We all go together, and it shows.
Q. You go from less to more. Until where?
R. Well, I hope until the end. I feel very well, 100%. And willing to help with everything the coach tells me, whether on or off the field.
Q. Titular already?
R. That is always the goal. The footballer always wants to play. But you always have to add, from any situation.
Q. This Euro has been a goal marked in red for you. Do you see her closer than ever?
R. We are in fourth and there are fewer teams. Thats the reality. But also that we are facing Germany, a power that plays at home. If we win we will be in the semifinals again, like last time. But it’s too early to talk about winning.
Q. How about those German classes you gave to some of your classmates?
R. There were some who were better students than others. But the truth is that we had a good time on that shoot. He looked cool.
Q. Do you get asked a lot about Germany in the locker room these days?
R. Yes, because I know them well, for being colleagues or rivals. But they are world-renowned players.
Q. Your favorite player from Germany?
A. That’s a complicated one. I would say Kroos or Musiala.
Q. The one against Kroos, on Friday, could be your last game.
R. Hopefully! He is a reference. Madrid’s game passed through him and the German team as well. It must be taken into account. Germany’s game is going his way.
Germany’s game goes to Kroos’ boots. I hope it’s his last game!
Q. What does it mean to play the Euro with number 10?
R. It is a special number. It’s my first big tournament with that number. I already wore it in the sub 21 and I feel good with it.
Q. Did no one threaten to take it away?
R. No no. That depends on internationalities and I had to choose.
Q. What is behind the 10?
R. It is a special number. Cesc or Thiago, world-class players, took him here. And then it is that of Maradona, Messi… The one of the best in the world. For me it is a responsibility and a motivation.
Q. Let’s analyze Germany by lines. The goal?
R. Neuer is a daring goalkeeper. His footwork is brave. He dares to filter, play long… You have to be careful when you are going to put pressure on him. And then we already know what he stops.
Q. We continue with the defense. As they are?
R. Hard. He has wingers like Kimmich and Raum, who plays for Leipzig, my team. They have different players, powerful and also offensive, with a lot of arrival and the ability to center.
Neuer is a daring goalkeeper. His footwork is brave. He dares to leak, play long
Q. Let’s go to the football kitchen, the center of the field.
R. Toni Kroos speaks for himself. He is the axis of everything that happens. Then Andrich gives balance and control.
Q. We finish with the forward and offensive axis.
R. Up front they have a lot of arrival, a lot of quality with Musiala, Wirtz, Sané and Gundogan arriving from behind. It is a team to take into account and with which we have to be focused throughout the game. Otherwise, at the slightest they can mark you or they can surprise you because the individual quality they have is important.
Q. You also know the coach, Nagelsmann, well.
R. I was with him at Leipzig. He sometimes sees himself reflected in the national team a bit of what he wanted to do at Leipzig and at Bayern. He is a coach who always changes and always wants to surprise, but we will be attentive.
Q. You are usually brave with the decisions you make.
R. Yes, yes, he is young. Everything he has done has gone very well so far. I think that he gives Germany that added motivation that gives him that youth that he has. We will be prepared for everything.
Q. Luis de la Fuente will be in front. How do you work a week like this with such an important game?
R. Normally. In the end what we have done so far is good, there have been no problems. When something is going well, you don’t need to change much. After the Albania game we had one more day and the work routine changed a little. Now there is one less day, so the training plan does change a little, but the talks and all that are the same as always.
Q. The coach insists that Spain still has room for improvement.
R. TRUE. Throughout. In being more attentive, in the offensive phase, in the defensive phase, in materializing the plays better, because in the Georgia game we scored 4 goals, but we had opportunities to do more. I think that’s the good thing about this selection. We are a young team, but with a lot of experience. We can improve in all lines.
Q. They give the sensation of going upwards. Have they reached their limit?
R. No, I think we are going to go further. This upcoming game is an opportunity to continue growing.
Q. The packaging, the setting of the match, is scary because of the atmosphere of playing against the host.
R. In the end it is a Euro Cup match and to win the title you have to beat the best. And Germany is one of the best and most playing here with its people. We should not complain about that, because many people are coming to support us. We know that they also follow us a lot from Spain, but many came here to Germany for the game against Georgia. We notice the push a lot. We are prepared for whatever comes.
Q. Spain has never beaten the host at home, is it motivating?
A. It’s true. They told me about it the other day. It’s another motivation. On top of that against Germany, which is one of the greats. Winning would be a blow on the table.
Winning would be a blow on the table.
Q. Injuries have played against you. Do you realize that he would have fifty-odd caps for Spain?
R. Yes, but they are things that can happen in football and phases that a footballer can go through. I have taken all the mishaps I have had as new experiences, learning to improve, to know my body and myself better and to grow. Everything adds up, every mishap, every goal… I always try to get something positive out of everything.
Q. What will happen from July 14?
R. Let’s hope we have to celebrate the title with our teammates and then we’ll see what happens. You all know what’s in my contract, so… I’m here, happy, content and trying to enjoy the experience to the fullest. What has to happen at the club will be seen.
My future after the Euro? What has to happen at the club will be seen.
Q. Have you thought about what to do if you win the Euro Cup?
R. We were just talking about it when we were taking a shower. To start, I think I’m going to cut my hair, maybe dye it. I talked about it with my friends the other day. I haven’t decided on the color. I am open to that debate. Then celebrate in a big way with all the teammates, staff and fans in Spain. And then rest.
