Interview with Felix Magath: "We need to create a new attacking force“

Five international players are still missing from the squad and others have only just resumed team training. And the list of injured players is long.

fcbayern.de met with Magath in the Reds’ training camp at Rottach-Egern to catch up on the latest news. Over a slice of apple cake and a pot of peppermint tea on the terrace of the Hotel Bachmaier Alpina, the team’s headquarters, the ex-German international was relaxed as he told us how he sees his team in its first year without the influential Michael Ballack.

Interview with Felix Magath

fcbayern.de: Mr Magath, may we ask you what’s on your birthday list?
Felix Magath:”Not much actually because there’s not much I need at the moment. I am very satisfied with my job at Bayern Munich and at home everything is nice and rosy.”

fcbayern.de: You could consider the extension to your contract as an early birthday present from the Bayern board…
Magath: “Certainly. It was the right thing to do before the beginning of the season to prevent the rumour mill from starting in the first place. It was a clear message to everybody.”

fcbayern.de: The new season starts in just over two weeks’ time and you still haven’t got a full squad to work with. Could this be a problem?
Magath: “Actually, the problem with some players starting their pre-season training late happens every year with this club. In 2004 after the European Championships and in 2005 after the Confederations Cup we were in the same position. But this year we have five players who will start training only 12 days before the season begins. And, to make things more complicated, we have to establish new playing tactics on the pitch. In Michael Ballack we have lost a strong personality who led and influenced our play, so now, effectively, we have to create a new attacking force.”

fcbayern.de: Do the problems with the preparation mean that it you don’t yet know who will be the first eleven at the start of the season?
Magath: That is correct. I can’t say to you today that I have made my decision for eight or nine positions. But that is the exciting thing, even for me. If everything is strraightforward before the season, there isn’t much to do. Now there are lots of uncertainties and that is a big challenge. Now, those who had previously been in Michael Ballack’s shadow must stand up and be counted and take on more responsibility. Now is the time for the players to show what they can do. Everyone has the possibility of claiming his position in the team, which is what we are noticing in training. Everyone is determined and is looking for their chance.”

fcbayern.de: If the team’s method of playing changes now that Ballack has gone, this will have implications on the training sessions, won’t it?
Magath: Definitely. We have to practise new moves and particularly set pieces. We won’t have to change much with the defence but up front we will look a lot different from last season. And I think that those changes will result in us playing more attractive football.”

fcbayern.de: Will you be asking some individuals to play a more prominent role on the pitch?
Magath: “I want to see more from the midfielders in particular. Bastian Schweinsteiger springs to mind here and he should seize this great opportunity now that Ballack and Zé Roberto - who was competing for the same position – are gone. We need someone who can create chances from the middle of the park and I think Bastian will be taking over some of Michael’s role in this aspect. Now, he needs to grow in stature, which I think he can do.”

fcbayern.de: Bastian and the other German international were involved in a strenuous World Cup campaign, particularly on an emotional level. Do you think this will have any effect on their day-to-day life in the Bundesliga?
Magath: “Everyone should remember that the World Cup is a unique and extraordinary experience. The German team received euphoric support and backing from all sides, which is not something that we always get at Bayern. Obviously, we want to embrace the positive mood in German football but we should not expect it to go on forever. The players have a hard season ahead of them, not least because people’s expectations of them have risen.”

fcbayern.de: Would you say that Bayern Munich can expect a difficult season, as far as you can see from the first few weeks?
Magath: “In all likelihood we will not be in top form for the first few games because we simply have too many players who are not fully prepared. We won’t be able to carry out the key experiments until the full squad is available. So it could be as late as mid-September until all players are at the same level and we have gelled as a team. Until that point we’ll just have to help each other along. Naturally we start the season as favourites, but it is a help to the team and myself that the board has not set the club’s aims as high as in the past. But it goes without saying that we want to successfully defend our title.”

fcbayern.de: We wish you lots of success with that. Thank you for the interview!