Ozil eager to reach Champions League final

Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil is desperate to reach the UEFA Champions League final after semi-final heartbreak in the previous two seasons.

The Germany international signed for Madrid after the 2010 World Cup and has helped guide his side to the final four in each season he has been at the club, but he has yet to get beyond that stage.

Defeats to Barcelona in 2011 and Bayern Munich in 2012 ended the Spaniards’ hopes at the semi-final stage and Ozil is keen to take things to the next level when they face Borussia Dortmund this time round.

“I have been with Real Madrid for three years now and it is the third time we are in the semis,” he told reporters.

“Now we finally want to reach the final.”

Ozil is the man in form for Madrid at the moment having scored four goals in his last three appearances, but he insisted the team performance was what he was focusing on.

“I am happy that I am scoring at the moment,” he added. “The team effort is important, but I am happy that I am scoring more lately.”

The former Werder Bremen midfielder was also keen to pass on his congratulations to international team mate Mario Gotze following the announcement of his transfer to Bayern Munich.

Like Gotze, Ozil left a successful club to sign for one of Europe’s elite sides and he was happy Gotze had been able to seal a move to the Allianz Arena.

“Of course I did not know [about Mario Gotze’s transfer to Bayern Munich],” he said.

“But I am happy for him, because he is a good friend and a great footballer.”