Oezil, Khedira asked to learn English or Spanish by Mourinho

MADRID - Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has urged new German players Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil to learn Spanish or English swiftly so that he can communicate with them, the AS sports daily said Wednesday.

Mourinho said the two Germans were keeping to themselves and not socialising with the other Real players.

“The two Germans don’t have an easy life. They don’t speak a word of Spanish … They don’t even master English. They speak English a little better than Spanish but it is difficult (to communicate),” Mourinho told AS.

The playmaker Oezil and the defensive midfielder Khedira came to Real for 29 million euros from Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart, respectively, a few weeks ago. They were not starters when Real opened the league season with a 0-0 draw at Mallorca Sunday.

Mourinho, who took the Real job in summer after guiding Inter Milan to the Champions League trophy and an Italian leage and cup double, also told AS the two players need to interact with their team-mates.

“Their participation in the squad’s social activities is effectively zero. Oezil lives with Khedira and Khedira lives with Oezil,” Mourinho said.

But Mourinho also acknowledged that “you have to be patient and give the two Germans time” to find their way into their new club.

Germany coach Joachim Loew said Wednesday Mourinho was expecting too much from the newcomers.

“No one can expect a player to learn another language in three or four weeks time,” Loew told a news conference.

Loew said that Oezil and Khedira told him they were warmly received at Real and were communicating well with Mourinho. The players are currently with the national team ahead of two Euro 2012 qualifiers.