His case is only comparable to that of Xabi Alonso. No other player is more molly-coddled by Mourinho at this late stage of the season than Özil and it's time he rose to the challenge. In other words, it's time he pulled out all the stops and played the sort of superb football he's capable of.
A quick look at his stats and it is obvious. No matter how weak he is physically, there is no way he can be tired in this final stretch. Out of 32 league games, he's only played nine full matches. He didn't leave the bench in 11 games either because he was injured or resting. In the Champions League, he's only played the full 90 minutes on three occasions.
Quite clearly then, tiredness from accumulated playing time can be no excuse. On Saturday he played the full match, something he hasn't done since 10th March. He was very active, getting involved all along the attacking front, losing his marker down the wings and getting into effective scoring positions before the goalmouth - which is how he came to score a brace. In his last match at the Bernabéu against Levante, he scored another brace. In just two matches he has notched up half of his goal tally this season.
It's a good sign. The team needs him to give his all in this semi-final against Dortmund. The chance to shine in Germany should also spur him on. When Özil is in top gear and inspired, Real thrives. His attacking skills are vital. It's time for him to step up now and be the man of the match.
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