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16.03.2017Bundesliga

Kai Havertz: 'It’s been tough'

Kai Havertz would obviously have been happy to experience the atmosphere at the Vicente Calderón but his academic education came first. The youngster had to miss the Champions League match away to Atlético Madrid as he had exams to sit at the Landrat Lucas Grammar School. Head coach Tayfun Korkut made the considered decision to make school the priority this week.
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

Kai, let's start with the most important question: What grade did you get and how was it?
Havertz: I had a four-hour geography exam on Tuesday and I feel really good about it so it must have gone alright.

What's the timetable for your A-levels in the next few weeks?
Havertz: I'm almost completely finished with the pre-exams and and then there's the run-in to the real A-levels in a month’s time. I've got German and Sport as main courses, Geography as the third subject and Maths oral.

Bayer 04 have pursued a dual concept in youth development for a long time to ensure vocational and academic education are not ignored. Who made the decision for you to concentrate on school this week?

Havertz: It came from the coach and that was fine by me as I knew I still had work to do. Otherwise, I would have been away for three days so it fitted in well. Of course, I would have liked to have played at the Vicente Calderón.

How have you found the double burden of school and professional football recently?
Havertz: It's been tough recently and there were times where it was really stressful when I needed to be fully focused on both things. It really is tiring and sometimes it's not easy mentally. But the end is in sight soon and then I can finally concentrate on my duties as a pro. And I'm very grateful to the club that I could combine football and school. That was important to my parents and to me.

Where did you watch your team-mates play and what's your assessment of their performance?
Havertz: I watched the game at home in Leverkusen and I think the lads played really well. Although everything wasn't perfect it was a step in the right direction.

Will you be available for the Werkself at Hoffenheim on Saturday?
Havertz: Well there aren't any academic duties at the weekend. But the coach has to decide whether he wants to include me in the squad. I'm definitely up for it.

 

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

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