“I’ll dye my hair if we win the Eurocup”

Dani Olmo (Terrassa, 05.07.1998) – 10th place in Spain. This is the most charismatic number in the history of football. The star of the Bundesliga since his arrival from Dinamo Zagreb To defend the RB Leipzig shirt, Dani is waiting with sharp fangs for the match against Stuttgart.

In the German national team he has friends, teammates, weekly rivals and an important coach in his career. Because Julian Nagelsmann He was the coach who welcomed him to Germany when he arrived in the Bundesliga in January 2020. Another link before the match with Stuttgart, the door to the semi-finals, which Dani Olmo He already knows from the inside, having been the star of the match at Wembley three years ago.

His girlfriend is at home, Laura Ablaborn in Berlin, faces a dilemma

ASK. How do you like the game at home?

REPLY. At home I hope he goes with Spain. Otherwise be careful! (laughter) I am lucky that my family was able to come to almost all the games. They will also be playing against Germany as a good group of friends. This motivates more.

Question: What do your German friends tell you?

R.They play in Germany. It will be nice to see them and play against them.

Question: David Raum, your teammate in Leipzig, said that he blocked Dani Olmo the other day.

R. (laugh again) Nothing. It was a joke. We have a good relationship.

Question: For Germans, their choice is something supreme.

R. Especially since the Eurocup is held at home. For them, it’s almost an obligation. But we’re going to continue doing our job, and it’s going very well.

Question: What does a modern German player think about Spanish football?

R. Respect and admiration. He feels that these are quality players with great skill and he always wants to dominate. In Germany I always had a lot of respect for the Spanish player.

There is respect and admiration for the Spanish footballer in Germany

Question: Does Dani Olmo feel that he is more appreciated in Germany than in Spain?

R. I don’t want that. Here I might be recognised more because I haven’t played in the Spanish league. In Spain I’m only seen in the national team. But I don’t feel undervalued in Spain at all.

Question: Do you and Nico Williams agree that there is no team like Spain at this Euro in terms of collective play?

R. I agree. The way we play conveys confidence and security in the group. We all go together and it shows.

Question: You go from less to more. Up to what?

R. Well, I hope until the end. I feel very good, 100%. And I am ready to help in everything that the coach says, both on and off the field.

Q. Owner already?

R. This is always the goal. A footballer always wants to play. But you always need to improve, in any situation.

Question: This Euro has become a red-marked target for you. Do you see it closer than ever?

R. We are fourth, there are fewer teams. This is reality. But also that we will have to face Germany, a power that plays at home. If we win, we will be in the semi-finals again, like last time. But it is too early to talk about victory.

Question: What about the German lessons you gave to some of your classmates?

R. There were some who studied better than others. But the truth is, we had a good time on set. It was cool.

Question: Do you often get asked about Germany in the locker room now?

R. Yes, because I know them well, as colleagues or rivals. But they are world-famous players.

Question: Who is your favorite German player?

A. That’s a difficult question. I would say Kroos or Musiala.

Question: Friday’s game against Kroos could be your last game.

R. With hope! This is the link. Madrid’s game went through him and the German team. This must be taken into account. Germany’s game is going on as usual.

Germany’s performance is good for Kroos. I hope this is his last game!

Question: What does it mean to play at Euro 10?

R. This is a special number. This is my first big tournament with this number. I already wore it in Sub 21 and I feel good in it.

Q. Nobody threatened to take it away?

R. No, no. It depends on the nationalities, and I had to choose.

Q. What is behind the number 10?

R. It’s a special number. Cesc or Thiago, world-class players, brought him here. And then Maradona, Messi… One of the best in the world. For me, it’s a responsibility and motivation.

Question: Let’s analyze Germany line by line. The goal?

R. Neuer is a brave goalkeeper. His footwork is brave. He dares to filter, to play long… You have to be careful when you’re going to put pressure on him. And then we know what stops him.

Question: We continue the defense. How are they?

R. Tough. He has strikers like Kimmich and Raum, who play for my team Leipzig. They have different players, powerful and attacking, with a lot of attacks and the ability to concentrate.

Neuer is a brave goalkeeper. His footwork is brave. Don’t be afraid to filter, play long

Question: Let’s go to the football kitchen, to the center of the field.

R. Toni Kroos speaks for himself. He is the axis of everything that happens. Then Andric gives balance and control.

Question: We are finishing with the forward and offensive axis.

R. They have a lot of arrivals in front, a lot of quality: Musiala, Wirtz, Sane and Gundogan are coming from behind. This is a team that we have to take into account and on which we have to be focused throughout the game. Otherwise, they can mark you out or surprise you at the slightest provocation, because their individual qualities are important.

Question: You also know coach Nagelsmann well.

R. I was with him in Leipzig. Sometimes what I wanted to do in Leipzig and Bayern is reflected in the national team. He is a coach who is always changing and always wants to surprise, but we will be careful.

Question: You usually make decisions boldly.

R. Yes, yes, he is young. Everything he has done so far has gone very well. I think it gives Germany that extra motivation that its youth gives it. We will be ready for anything.

Question: Luis de la Fuente will be up front. How do you manage to work through the week with such an important game?

R. Usually. In the end, what we have done so far is good, there have been no problems. When something is going well, there is no need to change much. After the Albania game, we had another day and the work schedule changed a little. Now there is one less day, so the training plan changes a little, but the negotiations and everything are the same as always.

Question: The coach insists that Spain still has room for improvement.

R. TRUE. Through. In being more attentive, in attack, in defense, to better implement the game, because in the game with Georgia we scored 4 goals, but we had opportunities to do more. I think that is good in this choice. We are a young team, but with a lot of experience. We can improve in all directions.

Question: They create a sense of upward movement. Have they reached their limit?

R. No, I think we’ll go further. The next game is an opportunity to continue growing.

Question: The design and atmosphere of the match make me feel scared by the atmosphere of playing against the home team.

R. At the end of the day, it’s a European Cup game, and to win the title you have to beat the best. And Germany is one of the best and plays the most with their people here. We shouldn’t complain about that, because a lot of people come to support us. We know that we have a lot of followers from Spain, but a lot of people came here to Germany for the game against Georgia. We often notice the push. We are ready for whatever happens.

Question: Spain have never beaten their hosts at home, is that motivating?

A. That’s true. They told me about it the other day. That’s another motivation. On top of that, against Germany, which is one of the greats. A win would be a slap on the table.

Victory will be a blow to the table.

Question: Injuries played against you. Do you realize that he would have played fifty-odd matches for the Spanish national team?

R. Yes, but these are things that can happen in football and stages that a footballer can go through. I have taken all the failures that I have had as new experiences, learning to improve, to know my body and myself better and to grow. Everything works out, every failure, every goal… I always try to take something positive out of everything.

Q: What will happen on July 14?

R. Hopefully we will have to celebrate the title with our teammates and then we will see what happens. You all know what is in my contract, so… I am here, happy, satisfied and trying to enjoy this experience to the fullest. What happens at the club, we will see.

My future after the Euro? What happens at the club, we’ll see.

Question: Have you thought about what you will do if you win the European Cup?

R. We were just talking about it when we were taking a shower. First, I’m thinking of cutting my hair, maybe dyeing it. I was talking about it with my friends the other day. I haven’t decided on the colour. I’m open to that discussion. Then celebrate in style with all my teammates, staff and fans in Spain. And then relax.