Mario Götze has been nominated by UEFA for the Europa League Player of the Week, the European Football Association has announced. The PSV attacking midfielder competes with Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Juanmi (Real Betis) and Declan Rice (West Ham United) for the honorary title. You can vote for the Europa League Player of the Week here.
Götze impressed PSV on Thursday evening against Real Sociedad (2-2) by providing a brilliant assist to Cody Gakpo. The number ten passed Joseba Zaldúa on the sideline, dribbled in from the left and sent a cross ball at the right time. In the first half, Götze himself had already scored via a tapper, after Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro let a cross from Noni Madueke slip.
???? + ??? ———– = Goal and wonderful interplay between Götze and Gakpo #PSVSOC pic.twitter.com/QkeQiaMI2Y
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) September 16, 2021
The other nominees also made an excellent impression in their Europa League match. For example, Osimhen and Juanmi both scored twice against Celtic and Leicester City respectively, while Rice scored a goal against Dinamo Zagreb. The latter also achieved a pass accuracy of 98 percent. Götze puts a percentage of 86 percent against that, but also plays deeper on the field.
Götze acknowledged afterwards in conversation with ESPN that at a ‘certain moment’ PSV ‘played more with the heart than with the head’. “We want to win, give everything and score that third goal. Maybe it’s better to play with the head than with the heart, but in the end it’s always a combination,” he explained. Before the 2-2, Götze “played with the head,” he said with a laugh. “Cody finished very well. He made a good run in the penalty area and he is a very good player, with a lot of potential. It was a nice goal.” In Götze’s eyes, PSV should have gotten more out of the game. “We played well, but in the end we can’t be happy with a draw in the first home game.”