🗣️ Kai Havertz exclusive: 'The pressure only increases over time' | OneFootball

With his summer switch to Arsenal, a new coach at international level and a new boot deal with Puma, there’s been a lot going on with Kai Havertz lately.

OneFootball caught up with the 24-year-old at the Puma Store in London to discuss his development in recent years, his goals for the German national team and his first impressions of his new boots.

You’re only 24, but you were already a Bundesliga footballer during your school days and have been playing at the top level for seven years now. Does a number like that almost make you feel a little old?

“To be honest, quite a bit. Especially when you see how young the players are that come into the national team and Arsenal. But at the same time I’m still very young and still have many years ahead of me.”

How have you changed as a footballer since your school days?

“When you start as young as I did, you don’t think about anything at first, you always have a clear head and just play. The pressure only increases over time. It’s starting to play a role for me now, as expectations are getting higher and higher. You have to learn to deal with that. I tried not to change my playing style too much and stay the same, which is definitely important to me.”

There has been a bit of a discussion in the media over the last few weeks about which position is best for you. You don’t think much of this discussion and said in a previous interview that your tactical position wasn’t that important to you. Instead, what is crucial for you to perform well on the pitch?

“I have experienced so many coaches and therefore different playing styles and philosophies. I feel most comfortable in a team that has a lot of ball possession. I just want to have the best around me so I can play the best football.

“As far as position goes, I’m just a player who feels at home anywhere on the pitch, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, I can play anywhere, but on the other hand, sometimes you have to fill in the gaps. But I now accept this role quite well.”

You’re often a bit between a goalscorer and a playmaker. What do you personally prefer: scoring ten goals in a season or providing 15 assists?

“Celebrating goals with the fans and team-mates is always the best feeling, but the statistics topic is completely irrelevant for me. Those who judge you based on this usually haven’t seen the games at all and are simply looking to see whether you scored a goal or provided an assist. Not being involved in a goal doesn’t necessarily mean that you played poorly as an offensive player.”

According to the pundit Jamie Carragher, your recent introduction from the bench against your former club, Chelsea, was crucial because it gave your team-mates a target man to hit. With all the focus on your technical skills, does it sometimes get overlooked that you also have this component to your game?

“Not anymore in England because you have to bring it with you here. Especially in a game like against Chelsea, when you’re still behind shortly before the end and it’s simply not possible to combine from behind. If you have to hit the ball long, it’s good to have someone in front who can extend or hold it.”

Is there perhaps a certain type of player that your own game benefits from?

“At Arsenal, for example, we have excellent wingers in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, who are so good that you can simply give them the ball in difficult phases of the game and then they start something. Of course that always helps.”

Let’s also take a look at the national team. Do you have a partner in the DFB offensive with whom you work particularly well?

“Of course I have to mention Julian Brandt. I generally have a very good connection with him. But Leroy Sané also makes it pretty easy with his speed because he can get to almost every ball.”

In 2018 you once said that a senior international cap “should be the goal”. Five years and 40 international matches later, your plan has worked out quite well. What will be your aim for the future at international level?

“To be a constant regular player for the national team. At Euro 2020 and the qualifiers I managed to do that, in the last year or two there has been a bit more rotation. The goal now is that the coach wants me on the pitch in every game.”

After moving from Chelsea to Arsenal, your introduction to Puma marks another big change for you, and you’re now wearing completely new boots. How do the new boots feel?

“They are very comfortable which is quite important in a football boots. It also gives you a lot of grip on the pitch, even with the ball at your feet. And they look good too, so I’m very happy.”

Are you more nervous than usual before your first game with a new boot?

“Not nervous, but it’s a big step because next to the ball the boot is the most important thing for a footballer. When you look down and wear a new brand, it’s something completely different. I was able to get used to the new shoe straight away and am very happy with it.”

To what extent do you still follow the Bundesliga?

“Unfortunately I can’t watch all the matches, but I try to watch the top matches. It’s great that there was a real title race in the last season between Bayern and BVB. I hope that one or two teams more will be in the race until the end this year.”

One of these possible teams is your former club, Bayer Leverkusen. How do you currently see your former club under Xabi Alonso?

“The season is still extremely long, but I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed for the boys. I have a lot to thank the club for. It’s nice to see that there is so much euphoria at the moment and if there was one club that deserved it at some point, it would be Bayer Leverkusen.”

This interview was conducted in cooperation with Puma.