• Premier League

Schurrle 'won't flop like Marin' at Chelsea

ESPN staff
August 15, 2013
Andre Schurrle is determined to win his place back for the German national side © Getty Images
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Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle insists he will not become a flop at Stamford Bridge like his compatriot Marko Marin.

Germany international Schurrle joined the Blues from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, making the leap into the Premier League despite Marin's struggles last season. Marin made the switch from Werder Bremen but, after only starting two Premier League games last term, has joined Spanish side Sevilla for the upcoming season.

Schurrle told kicker that he is only focusing on his own pre-season preparations.

"I am Andre Schurrle," he said when asked whether he would suffer the same fate as his international colleague. "And I don't compare myself to others. I have my own qualities and enough confidence to say I feel strong enough to come out on top here. It is a great challenge but I am delighted that I took this chance."

Schurrle won his 25th cap for Germany on Wednesday when he was used as a late substitute for Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller in the 3-3 draw with Paraguay. The former Leverkusen man has lost his place in Germany's starting XI, and Germany boss Joachim Low recently claimed that Schurrle's international career had stalled.

"He also told me that and looking at the figures, you could see it that way," Schurrle said. "I scored seven goals in my first 14 games for Germany and none in the last 11. But I think that, when I was subbed on, I was involved in some chances for us. My game has become safer, I also developed last season."

Having previously played for Leverkusen and Mainz in his homeland, Schurrle has only ever known pre-seasons based in central Europe. Chelsea's summer preparations, which have seen them tour the US and Asia, are totally different, Schurrle explained.

"It is a different world here," he said. "We have a huge squad with lots of great players. Everything is bigger and the pre-season is totally different from what I have got to know so far. We have only trained in London for four days."

The 22-year-old also said he felt welcomed and accepted by his team-mates, but when questioned whether he'd start in Chelsea's first game against Hull he said: "The full 90 minutes will be hard for me right now."

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