'Jona is fired up for this tournament'

Hi Mitch, how are the holidays going?
I spent a few days in Barcelona and in Turkey with my girlfriend and my little daughter. I was really able to relax and switch off. We've just been to Berlin to visit a couple of friends – I lived there for three years and my girlfriend's a Berliner.

Let's move on to the U21 European Championships. You headed Germany to victory two years ago. Can you remember your headed goal?
Of course, I don't often score in my head! (He laughs) It was just before half-time and I was actually a long way away from the near post when Jerry (Jeremy Toljan, ed.) crossed. I ran to the byline but the ball landed right on my head. And from there it was like in slow motion looping into the far corner. It felt like a perfect header, a brilliant feeling. I'll probably never manage that again.

You managed to hold onto the 1-0 half-time lead right to the end of the second half…
Spain were the favourites and we knew we had to produce our best performance of the whole tournament. We were well-organised at the back from the start, began well, didn't give the Spaniards any space and we created chances up front. It was a really great team performance. And we deserved to win in the end.

What does this title mean to you?
A lot. If not for anything else, due to the fact that we achieved success as a team which perhaps wasn't expected. Rather like what we achieved with the Werkself in the second half of the season. We all exceeded ourselves at the Euros. It was very special for me to score the winner in the final I was very emotional. One or two tears flowed. (He laughs).

How do you rate the tournament?
It's always fun to compare yourself with the best. Even if the U21 European Championships can't be compared to finals for the senior squad, it is still a tournament played at a top international level. A lot of players who take part have already played in the Champions League or in the Europa League. All our games two years ago were difficult. It didn't matter who we were playing: We had to push ourselves to the limit. And there's also quite a lot of attention from the media for the U21 European Championships.

Will you be watching a couple of the Euro games on TV? 

I'll definitely watch if I've got time. Of course, I always try to watch the Germany games with Mo (Mahmoud Dahoud, ed.), Nadiem (Nadiem Amiri,ed.), Levin (Levin Öztunali, ed.) and Waldi (Waldemar Anton, ed) in the side, a couple of lads and good mates with me two years ago. I wish them every success. That obviously goes for Jona too (Jonathan Tah, ed.)…

Jona missed out two years ago because of a thigh injury and this time he's been named captain by the national coach Stefan Kuntz. Have you had contact with him in the past few days and wished him well?
No, but I'll write to him and perhaps give him a call. But regardless of that, I know Jona's completely fired up for this tournament. He'll lead the lads well with his approach – on and off the pitch. Of course, I've got my fingers crossed for him.