Bayern Munich » Interviews

Hooray for FC Hollywood

Luke — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:43:26 +0000

First of all, apologies to all of you for a slow response to this most interesting of weekends. Although I don’t blame the match, I’ve been pretty sick for three days, but trying to make a comeback today.

Clearly, I don’t want to write a match review. I’d simply make two points about the match itself. It was a relative slight improvement at least over the Bordeaux match, and also you could pretty much see the Hoffenheim or Bremen match as pretty reasonable facsimiles of the performance.

All the frenzy and attention has mostly been given to Philipp Lahm (see Jan’s superb initial summary here), but I want to start out by talking about Luca Toni. It’s quite surprising to me that most commentators are willing to gloss over this quitter’s command performance. In fact, I am even inclined to say that in American sports, Toni’s actions would be seen as more detrimental to the team than Lahm’s. Once again, the Schalke match was the catalyst for a superstar quitting on the team. Last season against Schalke, when Ribery earned a red card, I was sure his career at Bayern was over. I was convinced the board would stick with Klinsmann, simply because they had invested so much in him, and it was clear that Ribery gave up on the team on that occasion. Stranger things have happened but Luca Toni gave up on this team on Saturday, and no matter who is sitting on the bench in January, Toni needs to be handed his walking papers during the break. Even if Bayern are required to subsidize his entire salary, it would be better for him to watch his World Cup dreams die in his homeland than have him moping around the Sabener Strasse another 7 months. It might have been a lot different with Toni. As comedic in his pratfalls as thrilling in his goal scoring prowess (once), he might have carved out a unique, enduring image in an already large pantheon of Bayern characters. But it seems to all have come to an end with a whimper, and years from now we’re likely to remember Toni sort of like this:

“Remember Luca Toni, that one year?”
“Yeah”
“What happened to him?”
“Well, he kinda got old, I guess, just fizzled out”

At least Toni is lucky enough that we probably won’t remember he just packed up his bags in the middle of a match.

Philipp Lahm is right. But Philipp Lahm is wrong.
The small man with the now-big voice is drawing praise from all quarters for his intellectual challenge to the Bayern board on a host of fronts. But I think there are two points being overlooked here. First, Lahm’s critique doesn’t immediately validate every piece of criticism that comes from every know-it-all writer or fan. Second, the board is absolutely correct in deeming Lahm’s actions an “absolute taboo” and substantially fining him. You have to question what Lahm was hoping to accomplish by taking his admittedly nuanced and generally accurate views to the court of public opinion. Did he just wish to fan the flames a bit more so that an inferno takes hold at the annual meeting in a couple weeks? Does he think his opinion matters enough to alter the viewpoints of a very stubborn though very successful leadership? Was he simply tired, as a native Munchener, of being confronted by the man on the street with “Hey, what the hell is up with the team, Philipp?” and in a moment of frustration decided to let his mouth run? On Monday, Lahm met with the board, and the club issued a classically understated “everyone has kissed and made up” statement. But this one’s going to reverberate for a while. For me, it brought up a few opinions:

1) It’s easy to forget how injured this team has been. When Louis van Gaal is criticized for his constant lineup changes, it is rarely realized how many of these he has been forced into. With the exception of Gomez, all of the strikers have been injured (I also happen to believe Klose was injured much more severely early on than has been made known publicly). You’ve had serious injuries with Robben, Ribery and Van Bommel. Demichelis and Braafheid, while probably less critical, are also injuries that have weakened depth. The team has probably been lucky to dodge a couple bullets with Daniel van Buyten’s injuries occurring at just the right time. Bottom line: If we’d have played the entire season with the lineup available against Wolfsburg or Dortmund, even at a median level of form, we’re probably neck and neck with Leverkusen.

2) It is only natural that there is a sense of a “team philosophy” vacuum in the current moment. The leadership is somewhat in transition, with Nerlinger still finding his role within the club. The club simply can’t recover from hiring Klinsmann and gearing its policies towards his nebulous philosophy quickly enough to give LVG all the raw material he needs immediately. The timeline of decisions and purchase agreements supports this. I believe the only real unmitigated transfer disaster thus far has been Pranjic, although I do believe Pranjic was brought in more a) as a hedge just in case Ribery was sold and b) to serve in more of a Brazzo/jack-of-all-trades role. It seems commentators harp on the Gomez transfer. Why buy him when you have Toni? Well of course, Gomez was bought to replace Toni. That the club might enjoy a season of having extraordinary depth at the position doesn’t seem ridiculous to me.

3)It is all good and fine to criticize the management for not appreciating the precept that a team is not just a sum of its parts, and also for not addressing critical needs. We sat here all summer in awe that they didn’t acquire a keeper and a right back. But what was missing from Lahm’s comments, and what is of vital importance is that at some level these players need to take responsibility. Because despite whatever mismatched parts may have to link up on the pitch in any given week, this team is still far too talented and creative to turn in this string of results. I would like to have heard a lot more about what Philipp Lahm can do better than what everyone else can do.

Much of what I’ve argued above is the reason why I will continue to stand behind Louis van Gaal. Of course, I won’t shed a tear if we’re 10 points back at the break and the board decides to can him as well. But, the problem is on the field, not on the bench. And I’m afraid Lahm’s criticisms, while quite valid, are endemic to this moment in time at the club, as a result of the coaching changes. It’s just too simple to say “Hey, Hoeness and Rummenigge don’t know what they are doing”. If that were the case, no one would have selected Bayern as their preseason favorite, but virtually everyone did. But what Lahm might have been trying to say in his way, and what I might be trying to say in mine, is that there have been mistakes made, mistakes of a sort that have to run their course and aren’t fixable immediately.

10 thoughts after #10’s day in the sun

Luke — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:43:41 +0000

1) A day later is perhaps a better time to write, letting the euphoria of a skillful, beautiful, exciting victory sink in a little bit. But as fans, we’ve got to try to maintain some balance to things. Just as last weekend should not have sent us looking for a ledge to leap off of, this week should not find us dreaming of rainbows and lollipops and free Paulaner forever. This was reflected by Mario Gomez’s post-match comments. As critical as I am of Gomez at times, I have to say that I’m always impressed by the maturity and insight of his interview comments. This is a refreshing change from Podolski, who I am not sure is fluent in any language.

2) As I was watching Ribéry and Robben sprint side by side down for the third goal, it made me think of this tangentially related scene. We’ve got to come up with the right nickname for these guys. I’m not sure I like “Robbery”. Rib-Rob, which immediately reminds me of “Jib Jab” (but not enough to create an old-timey animation of Arjen and Franck), seems like it would catch on better with Germans at least. “7-10 split” seems like it could carry some weight. Please weigh in with your ideas guys, this is a creative group, and now is the time, before some annoying moniker we all hate takes hold.

3) The most encouraging thing is, I believe this match could have been won without Ribéry and Robben. We saw a lot more stability out of the defenders, Tymoschuck had one moment where he was too late getting back and allowed Dzeko a free header, but was otherwise solid. The difference yesterday was, we went from competent to stellar with our playmakers on the field.

4) Perhaps the only player on the field who didn’t improve over the Mainz match was Ivica Olic. And yet, you’d be really stretching things to say he had a bad day. He was adequate, nothing more, which was just fine on Saturday.

5) The once heir-apparent to the 10 jersey in Munich, Toni Kroos, had an assist on the game-winning goal for Leverkusen, just 6 minutes after coming into the match. Kroos has remained mostly in the background this season, he was subbed in after the 80th minute in the two previous league matches. Perhaps Saturday’s effort will see him increase his playing time, but following the Robben acquisition, it seems more likely that Kroos’ loan spell has a better chance of becoming permanent. Meanwhile, Bayern’s last #10 also played the part of hero in the dying seconds on Sunday.

6) Almost lost in the excitement of the victory was the goalkeeping change. Hans-Jörg Butt replaced Michael Rensing in goal, after playing in the mid-week friendly. At that time, I was convinced he was simply getting some playing time in a meaningless match, but LVG stated on the club’s website that he will go forward with Butt. Say what you will, about how much a good offense makes a good defense, but Butt kept a clean sheet against one of the fiercest attacks in the league. However, he might owe that to Philipp Lahm’s clearance off the line and well constructed posts as much as to his own performance.

7) Champions League Group A roundup: Maccabi Haifa overcame a deficit, scoring 3 goals in the last 23 minutes of the match for a 3-1 victory at Hapoel Raanana. Juventus has defeated AS Roma by the same count, and Marseilles hosted Bordeaux in a Ligue 1 showdown..which ended like so many of them do over there, 0-0.

8. Multiple sources have indicated that the Rafinha transfer rumor is dead. It seemed to be more than a rumor on Saturday, when Kicker broke the story. Rafinha would have been a much more logical transfer to have undertaken right when the window opened. You’ve got to wonder what those conversations with Magath are like on these topics, there’s got to be some interesting psychological dynamics.

9) Saturday was also a banner day for FC Bayern II. Mehmet Scholl and company got their first victory of the season, defeating recent DFB-Pokal opponent Wuppertaler SV, 3:1, surely to the chagrin of the entertaining proprietor of the Abseits Guide to German Soccer. Despite the Robben debut scheduled for just a couple hours later at the Allianz, 1,700 turned out at the Grünwalder.

10) I wasn’t looking on my calendar when I kept talking about “next week, next week”, as next week is an international week! Bayern will be back in action, September 12, at Dortmund, with a start time of 9:30 Eastern. As you look ahead on the schedule, the weekend of September 26-27 sees the club visiting Hamburg. Although not officially announced by the DFL yet, that match in Hamburg will ~~almost surely be played on Sunday~~ be played on Saturday at 12:30 EST. So, adjust your American college football watching schedule and other commitments accordingly!

As the Ribéry turns..

Luke — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:24:56 +0000

Cue the soap opera organ strains. It was a 3-ring Ribéry circus at the Säbener Strasse on Monday.

Aïe!
Of short term concern, Ribéry had to leave the training ground early on with an apparent groin strain. He will not be available for the scheduled friendly in Görlitz (hometown of Michael Ballack) tomorrow. While I could be really cynical and state that Franck just doesn’t want to make a trip to Saxony, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. The training staff do not believe the injury will impede his ability to play this weekend.
Who’s the Boss?
A long-term and more concerning issue is the public debate erupting between Ribéry and van Gaal over how the French playmaker will be used. Ribéry told Sportsbild that he feels his strength is to play on the left, rather than atop LVG’s diamond. Complicating matters was a somewhat restrained (for once) endorsement of Ribéry’s viewpoint in the same publication by Franz Beckenbauer. Over the summer, we had a lot of discussion at the Bayern Offside about how LVG would handle a challenge to his authority, generally ending with the conclusion that, as it has always been, it will be my way or the highway with LVG. The question is, can LVG afford to keep Ribéry off the field as a show of authority? How far is Ribéry willing to go within the context of a match to prove his point? One of these guys is going to be here next season and one isn’t– given that, whose side would you take?
Whaaaaaaaaaaa?
Finally, this classic quote from Ribery:

“I never said I wanted to move to Real Madrid. If I did, I would have said so publicly,”

van Bommel: Positive Attitude

Angela — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:16:32 +0000

As always, my favorite person in the realm of football has taken on the eternally optimistic, positive attitude that he always has about a new season, a new coach and new goals. There was a fantastic interview with him over at FCB.Com so I thought I’d share it.

Netherlands international Mark van Bommel has been at Bayern for three years now – and has already been managed by four head coaches. As of this term, his fellow countryman Louis van Gaal has taken over the Munich helm with the aim of leading FCB to silverware. fcbayern.de spoke to the inspirational 32-year-old midfield man about the new boss, his training methods, and the job of captain at the club.

Interview: Mark Van Bommel:

fcbayern.de: Mark, you had a team brunch on Sunday. How was it?
Mark van Bommel: “Very good. We have a few newcomers this season, so a team building session was good in terms of helping the new guys integrate. And we had the wives and girlfriends there too, which is great for the overall atmosphere. The wives get to know each other better. And as we all know: men always do better when their women are feeling good (laughs).”

fcbayern.de: What are your impressions after six days’ training under new boss Louis van Gaal?
Mark Van Bommel: “Very good indeed. He know exactly what he wants, and he’s always very direct. Before every session, he tells us what he’s expecting and what he wants to see. And if we make mistakes, he points out exactly what went wrong. He has his own style, but it’s very benevolent. And he’s laid down rules for our ‘community’, but you can do what you want within the rules.”

fcbayern.de: It’s been interesting to see the squad practising certain passing moves repeatedly and for minutes on end.
Van Bommel: “That’s right. He wants us doing things automatically, so we gain a second or two in matches, in that we always have solutions for certain situations. Everyone knows exactly what he has to do, where he should move, and where he can direct a pass, or where he has to run if we’re pressing. That’s what makes a good team. That allows you to control and dominate a game.”

fcbayern.de: How’s the team reacted to the training methods?
Van Bommel: “I think the team’s picking it all up well, because we know we’ll all improve as a result. The coach also explains very clearly why we do each exercise. We need that to stop us running around like headless chickens.”

fcbayern.de: What lies behind these methods? What kind of football do you think you’ll be playing next season?
Van Bommel: “I think it’s fair to call it controlled offensive football. When we’re in possession, we’ll use the whole of the pitch and try to avoid losing the ball too quickly, especially in our own half. We’ll only take risks up front, never near our own goal. And when our opponents are in possession, we’ll use a pressing game to deny them any options to pass.”

fcbayern.de: And where will you be playing this season?
Van Bommel: “Up to now I’ve been one of two defensive midfielders in front of the back four. If we use a diamond, like we’ve had in training so far, I can also play right midfield. Those are the two positions where I’m at my best. I can play elsewhere too, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the coach.”

fcbayern.de: Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has arrived as a holding midfielder. What do you think of him?
Van Bommel: “He’s a good player. We met by chance at the airport a couple of weeks ago and travelled together into town. We had a nice chat. He’s a good lad, like all the other new guys. I’m sure we could play well together.”

fcbayern.de: You took over as captain from Oliver Kahn last season. Van Gaal hasn’t named his captain yet, but says that whoever it is will always play.
Van Bommel: “Then I’d have nothing against staying as captain (laughs). But seriously, I was very proud of being named captain last term and would be delighted to continue. But if I don’t, it’s not the end of the world. The important thing is a well-functioning team.”

fcbayern.de: You spent a long time considering whether to extend your contract with Bayern. Was it the right decision?
Van Bommel: “Yes, absolutely. I initially wanted a two-year deal back then, so I could plan a little longer term for me and my family, but the club only offered me a year. That’s why I needed a good think about it, but it would have been hard to decide against Bayern Munich. I know what I’ve got with this club, and now we have a coach whose ideas I can easily identify with. I have a good feeling about the coming season.”

I love that he gave Tymoshchuk a ride into town and dropped him at his hotel. Already trying to make the new boys feel welcome. And I love his attitude about being Captain or not. Of course, it would make me delighted to see him reprise the Captain’s role, but we’ll see what happens.

Bastian Stays, Daniel is hopeful

Angela — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:58:36 +0000

First the news of the day is that Bastian Schweinsteiger has stated that he would like a new contract with Bayern. Amongst all the speculation of a possible transfer from him, he has now come forward and said he wishes to stay at Bayern.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has outlined his intention to stay at Bayern Munich and sign a new contract. The Germany international rediscovered his best form at Euro 2008 and has been linked with a move to the Premier League.

“I’ll be talking to Bayern before I talk to anyone else because Bayern Munich is my home.”

And for your enjoyment, an interview from the FCB Website with Daniel van Buyten in which he talks about being happy in Bayern, friendship with Franck Ribery and possibly finishing his career with the club.

‘Feel like I’m still 25′
Van Buyten: Playing for Bayern is an honour
16.07.2008

Daniel van Buyten was captain of Hamburg when he came south to join Bayern two years ago, but the defender struggled to justify his position high up the dressing room hierarchy last season with just 19 Bundesliga appearances. However, despite a concerted campaign by his former fans in Marseille, thoughts of moving on have never crossed his mind, he revealed to fcbayern.de. The Belgian international is keen as never before to establish himself at Bayern, and even feels he could see out his career in Munich.

Interview: Daniel van Buyten
fcbayern.de: Daniel, are you happy with all the changes at Bayern?
Daniel van Buyten: “Yes, totally. The performance centre is really good. Everything complements everything else, and we’re all delighted with what’s been done.“

fcbayern.de: It’s all come together so well that Jürgen Klinsmann has decided not to run a training camp.
Van Buyten: “We have everything we need here for a full and productive day, without it ever becoming boring. Time passes quickly and we have loads of fun, which matters a lot. We have outstanding grass pitches, a weights room, great leisure facilities, and we eat well. You don’t often get all that at a training camp. And sleeping in your own bed of a night is obviously nice.“

fcbayern.de: What are the main differences under Jürgen Klinsmann and his brand new coaching line-up?
Van Buyten: “We have more coaches out on the practice ground with us. Training is much more personalised, according to Klinsmann’s philosophy of helping every player improve every day. We did benchmarking tests to uncover areas of weakness right at the start, and that’s where we’re trying to improve. Each player has his own exercise schedule and doesn’t necessarily do things he’s already good at. After two weeks, I definitely sense positive improvements.“

fcbayern.de: This is your third season at Bayern. Are you happy with how things have gone so far?
Van Buyten: “I’m personally very happy and satisfied. I always wanted to play for a really big club, and I consider it an honour to play for Bayern. I’m very proud of that fact, and last season hasn’t changed it. I played 19 times in the league. One or two more matches might have been nice, but it’s OK. I never considered moving on, and I continue to feel great emotional commitment to a club I used to follow with huge interest as a boy.“

fcbayern.de: There must have been times last season when you felt justifiably dissatisfied…
Van Buyten: “There are always times when things go well, and times when they don’t, but that’s exactly when you have to stand up and be counted. You have to continue your work as a professional, and show what you can do in every training session. That’s exactly my attitude. It would have been the easiest solution to fix up a move, but that’s not the way I am. If I’d wanted a move, I wouldn’t be here any more.“

fcbayern.de: Is it true that Olympique Marseille fans organised a campaign to persuade you into a return to the Stade Velodrome?
Van Buyten: “You always get enquiries from interested clubs, but I’ve told my agent I don’t want to move. With regards to Marseille, I really did get a great deal of mail from Olympique fans trying to talk me into a return. Some of them actually said: ‘Bring Franck with you and we’ll win the Champions League.‘ But I want to stay at Bayern and finally make the breakthrough.“

fcbayern.de: What are your expectations of the new campaign?
Van Buyten: “The competition is always intense at Bayern, but we have a new coach, so we’re all starting again from scratch. But I’m not setting myself a target in terms of number of appearances. That’s a decision for the coach, but I’ll make it as difficult as possible for him to overlook me.“

fcbayern.de: As a striker if necessary, or so we read in the papers – or was that just a joke?
Van Buyten: “I played up front until I was 20 and enjoyed it. I could always help out if the coach needed someone to hold the ball up and who’s strong in the air. I’ll always do my best for the team.”

fcbayern.de: Are you looking forward to playing in the Champions League again?
Van Buyten: “Watching the Champions League on TV last term hurt a lot. We’re back now and raring to go. We’re determined to get as far as we possibly can, and why shouldn’t we make the final in Rome? Bayern aim to do as well as possible in every competition the club enters. We have a great squad, so why shouldn’t we make the final and win the trophy? We’re certainly very hungry.“

fcbayern.de: Your homepage features three contrasting images of you: one indicating power with your arms crossed, one in a Bayern shirt with your back turned, and one as the Incredible Hulk. Why these three images?
Van Buyten: “I chose them myself because they reflect my personality so well. I can be very relaxed, but also evil and angry – it depends what I’m doing at any given moment. On the field of play I’m aggressive towards the opposition, but I’m a nice guy in private, maybe too nice sometimes. I’m certainly a big lad with a heart. You might need a couple more pictures to tell the full story.“

fcbayern.de: You’re great friends with Franck [Ribery]. How’s his recovery from injury?
Van Buyten: “He’s in good shape and enjoying the last few days of his family holiday. He wanted to hear about all the changes and he’s really looking forward to seeing it for himself. He’ll be back soon, playing his practical jokes as usual. Naturally, he’s looking forward to having the plaster taken off and resuming training.“

fcbayern.de: You’re 30 now, an age when many players start thinking about the future – you too?
Van Buyten: “No. I really don’t feel that old, more like 24 or 25. I want to keep playing for as long as I’m enjoying my football. I still have two more years on my contract with Bayern, but I could well imagine finishing my career here. What I’ll do after that, I simply don’t know.“

Martin Demichelis: An Interview

Angela — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:45:32 +0000

A friend of mine was kind enough to provide me with an interview with Micho in the most recent Bayern Magazine. Enjoy!

We won’t let ourselves be slowed down
The big interview with defensive ace Martín Demichelis

The scale for praise is in his case open-ended: Martin Demichelis (27) has ripened into a truly world class defensive player in his fifth year with FC Bayern; Uli Hoeneß considers him “the best defenseman in the Bundesliga”. Bayern Magazine spoke with the Argentine after the Pokal victory – about this praise from his manager, the goals for the coming weeks, and the topic of the Olympics. And “Micho” gives away a hint as to why he’s already looking forward to this fall.

Martin, congratulations on the Pokal victory. Are you feeling relieved, after such a close match?

Martin Demichelis: I am overjoyed. This is my third Pokal victory, but it’s never been that close before. It seems at the moment that we just can’t lose – I hope that it stays that way until the end of the season, and that we can get the other two titles, too.

How important is this first title for the rest of the season?

Demichelis: The Pokal is an additional motivation. Even though we had to endure overtime; the game cost us a lot of strength. But when you are rewarded once it’s over, you don’t feel your tired muscles anymore. We have so much self-confidence: Nothing can stop us now!

You’ve played an outstanding season, you could win the triple with Bayern, and you have found luck in your private life – it doesn’t get any better than this, right?

Demichelis: That’s right, I’m very satisfied with my performance and I’m also very happy in my private life. But especially regarding my sporting situation, I’ve also had to work hard and fight for this for five years. Now, with 27 years, I can finally show what I can do.

Not only the fans and the media, but also management is thrilled with you. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge classifies you as “world class”, Uli Hoeneß has recently enobled you with the title “Best Defenseman of the League”, according to Paul Breitner you are playing the “season of your life”. How do you feel about this praise?

Demichelis: It fills me with great pride and shows me that I’m on the right path. I am happy that I’ve been able to meet the expectations that were invested in me when I was signed on as a player. If I wasn’t able to pay back for this trust, after five years of playing for FC Bayern, then I’d have a completely different relationship with management.

Your statistics are sensational: In the 24 Bundesliga games that you have played so far this season, FC Bayern kept a clean slate in 14 of those games – without you, this was only achieved once. Also, you have won the most one-on-one battles of any defenders in the league. Do these statistics mean anything to you?

Demichelis: I don’t live for numbers. Every three or four days I have to prove on the pitch at what high level I can play. But these kinds of statistics are reassuring, and at the same time serve as an acknowledgement of my work. I am really proud to be the player who has won the most one-on-one battles, because that’s what it all comes down to, for a defenseman – above all in Argentina. There, life is a series of one-on-one battles; children don’t have it as easy as they do here. I have had to fight to establish myself right from the very beginning of my life, that is something which really left its mark.

Together with Lucio you build one of the best defensive duos in the world. Oliver Kahn said that you are the best defence he’s ever played with. What makes your cooperation so successful?

Demichelis: I think that we have both reached a really high level. He is the captain of Brazil’s Seleçao, I play for Argentina. We have really grown on each other, and besides, we have a very similar style of play: We pair South-American energy with German discipline. On the pitch we are two lunatics who scream at each other, but neither of us would ever be angry with the other. We both just want to win.

Lucio recently said that he wants to leave Bayern – have you discussed this with him, tried to get him to change his mind?

Demichelis: Lucio is very important for this team, and he’s aware of this responsibility. Besides, we both want to prove in the Champions League next year that we really do belong among the best central defenders of the world.

After five years, you’ve finally really found you place here with FC Bayern. How are things looking for the development of your countryman José Ernesto Sosa?

Demichelis: José has fantastic technical capabilities, but first of all he needs to get used to everything, on and off the pitch – it took a while for me, too. But I have a great deal of faith in him and believe that he could become a very important player for FC Bayern. He is intelligent and will continue to develop, he’ll make it.

How is your relationship with him on a personal level, do you help him in his new environment?

Demichelis: Of course, that goes without saying. We live in Grünwald just about 100 meters from each other, as the crow flies. And our girlfriends get along very well.

Which other players do you hang out with, away from the Säbener Straße?

Demichelis: Actually, I get along well with everyone. I think that’s important, because we travel so much together. I go out to eat with Luca sometimes, when our girlfriends aren’t in Munich – cooking isn’t really our thing. (Laughs.)

And where do you go? To an Argentine steakhouse, or to an Italian restaurant?

Demichelis: Unfortunately, I haven’t found any true Argentine restaurants in Munich, so the only place for grilling is at home in my own yard – therefore we go to Italian restaurants. But that doesn’t really happen all too often, because I usually eat lunch at training, and otherwise we’re in hotels two or three days per week. When I have the chance to be at home, then I usually just relax and rest up.

Your future coach Jürgen Klinsmann is famous for having lots of new ideas. What do you expect from him?

Demichelis: In any case, a new trainer always brings out new energy and new motivation. I am expecting a lot of things from him, above all, that he helps the team to make another step forward. We have a great roster, and play very well together. Now the challenge of the Champions League is waiting for us.

Is the Champions League your biggest goal?

Demichelis: First of all, I want to win as many titles as possible in this season. But of course I want to try, with the team, to win the Champions League next year. But my biggest goal, actually, is to play ten years for FC Bayern.

And with the Argentine National Team?

Demichelis: When it comes to the discussions surrounding my potential participation in the Olympics, I need to make one thing clear: My first priority is FC Bayern. I am a son of this club, and success with this club is what is most important for me. When it comes to the national team, it’s about my love for my homeland, and about honour. For me, there’s no more special moment than hearing your national anthem, wearing your national jersey, before a game. I always think about my family, and about my friends, and hope that they are proud of me. And that’s where my wish comes from, to be able to play in the Olympics.

Can you explain that a bit more?

Demichelis: It’s not just about taking part in the Olympics, but it’s about the whole event. I have taken on an important role in the national team, but I’ve not been able to participate in any important tournament. I had my bags packed for the World Cup in 2006, I was sure that I’d be part of it, and was just waiting for the call. And when I didn’t make it on the roster, my world fell apart around me. It took me eight months to get over it. If I were to be nominated for the Olympics, but not be allowed to go, that will probably hit me hard, again. But I’ll say it again: FC Bayern is Number One for me, so we’ll discuss this like grown-up men.

Your colleagues have a big tournament this summer. What do you expect from the German National Team, and who do you think will win the European Cup?

Demichelis: For me, Germany is the favourite. And I’m not just saying that because I live here. The team really continued to develop after the Wold Cup, they’ve become more mature. Italy is entering the tournament as Word Champions, but I think that they reached their zenith in 2006. But Germany can still improve.

Back to FC Bayern: You said you want to play 10 years in Munich, and you are now in your fifth season. Your contract runs until 2010, so you’d have to renew…

Demichelis: At the moment, I see no reason why I shouldn’t. I am very happy here in Munich, this city has become my second home. And FC Bayern is my club, I feel like a family member.

If you had to tell someone from Argentina, who didn’t know much about German football, about FC Bayern in just a few sentences – what would you say?

Demichelis: First of all, absolutely everyone in Argentina knows FC Bayern, so I wouldn’t have to explain anything. The stadium, the club’s training grounds, the whole organisation – everything is really perfect with FC Bayern, a real role model for all other clubs.

And what do you like about this city, what are your favourite places?

Demichelis: I love nature. In this city, I love the English Garden and the Isar. And on top of that you have the many gorgeous lakes and the mountains – there’s nothing better for relaxing. My Dad is here for a visit for the next few weeks, we’re going to do a lot together. Of course no visit is complete without a trip to the Beer Garden! Overall in Munich, I really value things like the lifestyle, safety, cleanliness and the friendly people. Everyone helps you, everyone is nice, you can only be happy here.

Are you still living alone here in Munich, or has your friend Evangelina already moved in with you?

Demichelis: My girlfriend has been here twice, but she has her job with Argentine TV, and has to fulfil her contract. She plans to come back the next time when we win the championship – and then I’ll be home over the summer break. We’ll see how things go in the second half of the year. But I’m 27 now, I’ve been alone in Munich for five years. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I hope that things will work out soon. I am really hoping for that.

That almost sounds like wedding bells…

Demichelis: We’ll see. I am happy and in love – everything else is just a matter of time.

Lukas Podolski on fatherhood and his relationship with Schweini

Angela — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:50:00 +0000

Girls hearts were breaking all over with the news that Lukas Podolski would be a father (Congrats to him) and now he’s done it again by saying the Schweinski never really existed. I appreciate his need to be his own person and how it must feel to constantly be compared to someone. Enjoy the read.

“The marriage with Schweini has never existed”

SZ: Mr. Podolski, the FC Bayern has forgotten how to laugh. You too?

Podolski: No, not at all, never. Of course you’re not satisfied when you don’t win the games. But in public, the mood in the team is depicted differently than it is in reality. It’s not that bad.

SZ: But Franck Ribéry isn’t smearing tooth paste under the doorknobs anymore?

Podolski: No, but that was during the training camp. That was half a year ago. You have to assess when laughing is appropriate- and when it’s not. It’s not like I laugh during a Sunday warm-down after loosing the day before. When you laugh there, during training, it’s improper.

SZ: That sounds as if you had gained some experience with laughing in the wrong moment.

Podolski: Yes, that’s right; there was one experience during the international in Wales in September. On TV, I was shown laughing on the bench. It was before the game and a team mate had waved at me. And I waved back. At once, people were saying again: Poldi is in a good mood. A picture was also taken and in the newspaper was written: Why is Poldi laughing? He is not playing! And then, a couple of weeks later, there was another picture in the newspaper in which I put up a bad face. And underneath it stood: Poldi! He has forgotten how to laugh! As a young player it’s not always easy to cope with the fact that you’re always perceived differently. But no matter how you’re perceived: it’s never correct. That’s the difficult task here at Bayern.

SZ: How do you react to such an ambivalent experience?

Podolski: The crucial point has really been that Wales-story. That was when I realised how people see me: Poldi here, Poldi there, Poldo trallala. But that’s over now. I am totally different. You have to prepare for the game, for every game. And when I don’t play, I’m not happy. Then I’m mad. At that time, in Wals, I was mad, too. And that should also come across via the media.

SZ: But then you’ll have to pretend you’re not the cheerful person you are.

Podolski: No, I always act like I really am. When I’m out I’m mad. I’m happy, when I don’t have to sit on the bench. When I’m allowed to play football, I act differently.

SZ: So you’ll probably be in a bad mood on Wednesday, because all signs indicate, that Ottmar Hitzfeld, the coach, will attempt to bring Klose and Toni, again. So there won’t be any room for you.

Podolski: That’s probably gonna happen. And I have to cope with that. But I know one thing: I’m not a benchplayer!

SZ: For the non-professionals: What exactly is the difference between being a benchplayer and a starter?

Podolski: Well: Playing and not playing. Receiving trust. Not receiving trust. That’s it. On Saturday, in Berlin, I was there. The three games prior to that I only watched from the side. Now I know, how the club is ticking. I know that you always have to prove yourself anew. You don’t get anything for free. It’s not enough when you have played well on Wednesday and the Saturday after that you accomplish nothing. At Bayern a hundred percent are not enough. You play against Bolton in the Uefa-Cup, you shoot two goals and everything is well. The next Saturday, in Stuttgart, you play, but only one half. Then everything is over. Three games in a row on the bench, that’s cruel. You drive home and you feel so empty. You don’t feel needed.

SZ: And what do you do then?

Podolski: What do you think? Watching a movie. Watching TV. But not the „Sportschau“, not the „Bundesliga“. I can’t take it, then [/I’m not in the mood, then]. I don’t want to watch everything again.

SZ: In cologne that was different.

Podolski: Sure. There, I didn’t have a guaranteed starting position in my contract, either, but I knew I’d play the next day and that I was needed.

SZ: You sound very frustrated.

Podolski: No, because I have learnt what I have to do here. I have to try, over and over again, to set such exclamation marks as I did against Bolton. I have to develop such a tunnel vision. Now that’s a new stage in my life. In addition to that I rearranged my surroundings. And the most wonderful is: In April, Mai I’m gonna become a father. I wanna be happy with my family. Wife [well, he literally said woman, not girlfriend], parents, child, that’s it. The rest has to happen on the pitch. I want to play football. I only want to play football. And that’s why the Poldi – Schweini – Poldi – Schweini – to – and – fro has to have an end. That has to end. I am Poldi….

SZ: Poldi? Or Lukas Podolski?

Podolski: Poldi is not over. People are used to that. It can stay like that. But I am Lukas Podolski, he is Bastian Schweinsteiger. It’s getting on my nerves: When both of us are on the pitch and one is playing bad, people say: Poldi and Schweini have failed. That can’t be it. My way is not his way.

SZ: So the time of divorce has come; Along with the plea to the public to accept it.

Podolski: The marriage with Schweini, if you wanna call it so, has never existed.

SZ: The summer fairy tale, the Poldy&Schweini-summer 2006! All of that is only an illusion maintained by the media?

Podolski: Yes, and that’s over. An awesome time, but what kind of time was that really? If you made a movie over Bayern, you’d also find two players, who have fun together [/who play a prank together]. But that was all there was about it. At that time it was like now with Franck Ribéry during the training camp: There, we played the pranks. We like to laugh together. Football includes that. And there, people don’t say: Poldi&Ribéry, the new, funny dream team.

SZ: The two of you have never been the young, glamorous duo, the public wanted to see in you?

Podolski: We were never out together, we never went clubbing together. That’s not in my nature, anyways. And with the exception of the spots for our outfitter, we have never shot a commercial together. Nothing. It’s not like we’re mad at each other, not at all. But we walk down our own paths. And now there’s the problem with the image: You’re pegged as something you’re not. As something you don’t want to be. You only want to get out of that trap.

SZ: Do you think it has even been bad for you, that you were a part of this artificial duo? For example as Uli Hoeneß, Bayern’s chief educator, was hard on Bastian Schweinsteiger, because he showed up in gossip columns and styled his hair extremly?

Podolski: To tell the truth, I don’t feel addressed in these matters. I’m a totally different person. I don’t need all these things. I’ve never seen myself, there. In private, I’m a family person. But maybe people saw me going that direction.

SZ: Are you also keeping your distance so demonstratively because all of a sudden you’re rivals at Bayern? Schweinsteiger also wants to play on the left wing. Ribery wants to attack from there- you want the same. It’s cramped, there.

Podolski: It’s always cramped, here. Everything is competition, here. They’ve got a new one for the defense, Breno; we now have four centre-backs. But only two can play- who do you wanna take out? Sure, I like to come out of the midfield. No matter, who my rivals are, I want to prevail, here. I want to play. And I can only achieve that through hard work and the right performance; in every game. My image can’t help me, there.

SZ: But it’ll be hart to find a starting position behind or next to Miroslav Klose or Luca Toni.

Podolski: Sure. I also have a couple of enquiries, whether I want to change the club in the winter break. Enquiries from abroad and from Germany.

SZ: …from Bremen, Hamburg…

Podolski: … but at the moment only Bayern counts for me.

SZ: But for how long? You could also go to manager Uli Hoeneß and say: I’m not playing. I must go.

Podolski: I still have a contract until 2010. And I want to gain respect, here. Now, for a starter, I gonna await the end of the campaign, until April, beginning of Mai. Until then it’s not that long anymore. And then we’ll see and maybe we really have to talk.

SZ: Are you scared of leaving Bayern too early, of being considered a failure?

Podolski: No, because I can’t influence such thinking. Sometimes I’m depicted as if I’ve forgotten how to play football. I have already had a lot of internationals, have already shot many goals. Sure, nobody can tell whether that’s gonna help me here or, in the long run, someplace else. I’m 22 now, only 22. I think I can still influence my career.

SZ: Isn’t Bayern, especially if the club is going through a crisis, a difficult club for a person in your situation? A person, who says: I want to grow up, now, please let me do that?

Podolski: Sure, it’s not an easy time. I have to help myself. But it’s a good thing that, in my age, I’ve already learnt and experienced so much. And that I woke up now and not with thirty, when my career is almost over. It would be a stupid thing to say: Munich is great, I’m doing great at Bayern and eventually I’m gonna be grey on the bench.

(SZ vom 19.12.2007)

Interview: Bayern Munich’s Dutchman, Mark van Bommel

Angela — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:36:01 +0000

Duetche Welle caught up with Bayern Munich’s Mark van Bommel (and my favorite Dutchman) to ask him a few things. The article was published today, September 26, 2007. I always find him interesting.

Last year Dutchman Mark Van Bommel was the lone positive surprise on a disappointing Bayern squad. This year the midfielder is quietly anchoring a team trying to return to glory.

DW: In the off-season Bayern signed Ribery, Klose, Zé Roberto, and Luca Toni. Are you annoyed that you’re no longer the star?

Mark van Bommel: Not at all. I’m not worried. I’d have to say it’s good that others are now in the spotlight. You can take your place in the background again and just do your job on the pitch. That’s important. The team respects and accepts me, and I’ve established myself.

DW: What’s this team’s potential?

Mark van Bommel: Well, we’ve only been together, practicing and playing together, for two months. And you can see that, with the players we have, we can gel very quickly. We have a fantastic locker room! If things happen, we sort them out ourselves. We don’t need a coach who hands down fines or things like that. When someone’s a bit out of form, the others help him. That’s the mark of a good team If we stick together, great things could happen!

DW: Are you a hot head or do you just want to show your commitment?

Mark van Bommel: I try to fire up my teammates in a positive sense. You have to win head-to-head battles…they’re the moments when games are won. You have to recognize those moments! And you try to influence the match!

DW: You’re a very hard-nosed player as we saw against Fernando Meira in the League Cup. What happened there?

Mark van Bommel: It wasn’t that bad — Fernando Meira said that himself. I didn’t touch him where it hurts most…just the stomach area. Of course, the papers wrote that I grabbed his privates but it wasn’t that bad. Of course, something like that has no place on the pitch!

DW: Afterward Bayern’s commercial manager, Uli Hoeness, talked about exercising restraint, and you said you needed to concentrate more on the game.

Mark van Bommel: Of course, negative images of players get created so quickly. And once you’ve gotten that label, it’s hard to get rid of it.

DW: Do you try to provoke opponents?

Mark van Bommel: It’s not just me. Every player tries to provoke opponents with technique or physical play.

DW: And psychologically?

Mark van Bommel: It’s part of the game, but not the most important part.

DW: What would I have to do to provoke you right now?

Mark van Bommel: Not much!…You do almost anything to get the 3 points — short of injuring an opponent, of course.

DW: Last year, you called for more German players at Bayern.

Mark van Bommel: Bayern is a German club. The main language we use has to be German. Fans have to be able to identify with the team. It’s good if our main language is German. If the mix isn’t right you need German players. But you also have to buy in quality!

DW: When you played in Spain, you told journalists to ask you questions in Spanish, not Dutch. You seem to consider integration very important.

Mark van Bommel: That’s right. and not just for me. It’s a duty, almost, for every player to learn the language when you go abroad. And the lifestyle so that you can fit in quickly and integrate into the team and into life off the pitch. You can’t use Dutch, of course, to buy bread in Spain…I spent a year there. It’s got almost everything. It’s an excellent city with lots of culture, the ocean, beaches, good food and nice weather. It’s a great place to live — I think anyone could live there.

DW: How would you compare the club Barcelona with Bayern Munich? What are the differences?

Mark van Bommel: Things are a bit more hectic at Barcelona than at Bayern Munich. It’s part of the culture. They elect a President every 4 or 5 years. That stirs things up because every 4 or 5 years you can have a different President and a different structure. It’s part of the situation there, and you don’t necessarily have to change. But Bayern is a much more solidly-structured club…Everybody knows everybody. It’s great big family. There’s nothing better than when a club creates a bond with players. They know what’s going on, and everything takes care of itself. And they know that there’s only one goal –winning is all that counts.

Source: Deutsche Welle

Lukas Podolski Interview

Angela — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:20:59 +0000

Over at TalkSoccer.Net, ScaryJeff was nice enough to translate an article in which Lukas Podolski gave an interview. It was featured in ‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’. I for one can’t get enough of young Mr. Podolski so I thought I’d share the interview with you. It’s great to see that, with his career challenge ahead of him, Lukas still has that cheeky sense of humor and a positive outlook on his place at Bayern. Also, I’m looking forward to seeing what else Podolski and Ribéry have planned for one another.

Question: Mister Podolski, this is maybe an obvious question, but are you happy to be nominated for the national team again?

Podolski: Of course, I am happy. I was away for 4 months after all. So I obviously was very happy that coach Löw called me before our game in Zurich, to ask if I feel fit enough to play. I said yes, and here I am!

Question: Were you surprised to be nominated after such a long break?

Podolski: Not surprised. I think I am an important part of this team. But of course it was a pleasant thing for me. This shows that the coach believes in me. I would have understood if he said ‘let’s wait’, but I’m glad he didn’t.

Question: Confidence is very important. At Bayern you just lost your biggest fan – Mehmet Scholl has retired some days ago. Do you miss him?

Podolski: It is a pity that Scholli is gone. He is a great person. But we see each other off the pitch and we also phone regularly. Of course we miss him at Bayern – but every career has to end sometime.

Question: Did you learn something from him to succeed at Bayern Munich? No one has more experience in that regard than he has.

Podolski: He told me a lot. Espescially how it was also hard for him in his first season and how he thought about leaving again. That Uli Hoeness convinced him to stay and that he has learned to fight for his place. The rest is history…

Question: Did you watch him while you were still at Köln?

Podolski: He was fixture at Bayern. A lot of success in the recent years is also because of him. I was lucky to learn from him this one year. We also had a lot of fun offside the training grounds. I’m happy we became such good friends.

Question: What tips did he give you during the first year?

Podolski: Of course, he told me how it was for him. But help? I want to learn that all myself and earn my own merits. I don’t want to just hear it from someone but experience it for myself. Besides we are a different kind of player. I play striker after all and he is an offensive midfielder. He can’t tell me after all “you have to shoot your freekicks like this and that!” For once no one can copy how Mehmet made his freekicks, and secondly freekicks are not my job at Bayern.

Question: Do you feel at home at Bayern now?

Podolski: No need to talk about the first year anymore. We were on a bad run and you saw it in the whole team not just with me. And it’s twice as hard as a new player then. No team in the Bundesliga is as hard as Bayern. You have to fight every day there for your spot. Now I feel a lot better here, espescially after I’m cured from my past injury. All has got a little bit easier. And now we have a team that can win all 3 titles this year – I am proud to be a part of that. Cause everybody rejoyces when Bayern doesn’t win the title. That makes it twice as nice if you can show the title at the end of the season.

Question: You say all got easier for you. But last year you were 2nd striker beside Makaay. Now you seem to be 3rd after Klose and Toni.

Podolski: I was injured during the complete pre-season. So I had no chance to prove myself and influence things. Now I can fight for the spot and my aim is of course to play. Otherwise I’d have to say ‘I’ll sit on the bench now or play for another team’. My goal is to play. One thing is certain though: There will always be discussion on who has to play. It is important that we are successfull as a team. If we end up winning the title and the UEFA Cup in the end and I just made 20 games and 10 goals I’m happy.

Question: The new coach in Munich and the constant talks with Ottmar Hitzfeld were very helpfull for you, wasn’t it?

Podolski: That is a normal thing for me. It was like that in Köln with my coaches and in the national team with Rudi Völler, Jürgen Klinsmann and now Jogi Löw: that you talk with each other and try to solve things. The team is one big family and you try to work for each other to be successful. That’s how I see it. Good communication is a key.

Question: And unlike Magath, Hitzfeld actually does that?

Podolski: He also is interested in the daily life of a player. He asks how life is with your girl friend or your family. That is important to me. If you just train, train and train and you don’t get feedback from the coach you never know where you are. But that was last year and is history for me now.

Question: Did you also improve tactically under Hitzfeld?

Podolski: Of course. I just knew that from the national team before. There we trained a lot before the World Cup on the tactical side. Where you have to run and how to play with each other. At first that was hard for me but it helps to do the same things over and over until they are your second nature.

Question: People always wonder what’s the best position for you.

Podolski: I don’t see myself as a target man who waits up front to let the high balls drop to his team-mates. I’m more of a player who can come from the midfield with speed.

Question: In the current 4-2-3-1 system you’d like to be on the right offensive side behind the only striker?

Podolski: I’m convinced I can play that. We already did that at the national team where i played behind Miroslav Klose. I am a player who knows what to do with the ball and not just waits for his chance like Makaay did. I don’t like to just be up front and wait for the ball. That is not my game.

Question: Are you glad to play alongside Klose now?

Podolski: Of course. If you see our stats – we always played very well with each other. That works really well in the national team. That’s how things should go on.

Question: You sure get a lot of advice along the lines of ‘The second year at Bayern is the most important’. Isn’t that annoying?

Podolski: There are always people who like to give advice from the outside. That’s part of the game. By now I don’t care anymore. It’s important what the manager Hoeness and the coach say. And they are completly convinced I will make my way at Bayern.

Question: Here is a random quote from Lothar Matthäus, start of June: “Podolski and Schweinsteiger have to do more.” Really not important who says what?

Podolski: My coach is Ottmar Hitzfeld. If Matthäus, who doesn’t train a team, says something in a newspaper, then this is of no worth to me. He’s just throwing in some nonsense without any relevance.

Question: Klaus Fischer, a former Schalke legend, said after Klose got transferred to Munich: “Poldi won’t make a single game for Bayern.”

Podolski: Well, Sunday was my first match this season. Basta. Discussion over.

Question: Did you ever consider moving to Bremen in an exchange for Miro Klose?

Podolski: There were several clubs who showed interest, not just Bremen. Of course you think about it for a moment, but this was never an issue with me, to leave Bayern after just one year. I saw that I fit into this team, that we will field a great team this season – why should I give up and leave the team?

Question: Did Hoeness make any influence? Maybe invited you to his house in Tegernsee to go swimming?

Podolski: No, no, I have a lake (Tegernsee is a big lake near Munich) in front of my own door. That’s great. I jump in there almost every day after training. It is very quiet at my place. I feel better outside the city closer to nature. The people are also different there than in the big city.

Question: People said ‘Bayern is world class club, Poldi has to finally grow up’. What do you think about that?

Podolski: Well, what does grow up mean? If I want to have fun, I make fun. The same thing with Franck Ribéry. You have to be true to yourself, no matter if you look adult or still like a kid. I really don’t know what is so bad about that.

Question: With Franck Ribéry you have had a battle of playing tricks on each other. Is there peace now in the locker room, or do you still find your shoes glued together ?

Podolski: No. The battle will continue. When he’s back from the national team, then he’s in for a nasty surprise. We two have a lot of fun with each other. We got along instantly well and I’m looking forward to this season with him.