Question: Bayern’s flowing football has been lacking noticeably compared to the first half of the season, especially in your last three games.
Götze: But we collected nine points from those three games.
Question: Yes, you did get the maximum out of those games.
Götze: We often find our rhythm during a match. We scored three goals in the second half against Schalke last week and here against Hertha we scored both goals after the break as well. The coach made slight adjustments at half time and we know ourselves that we didn’t play all that well in the first half. It will be important on Wednesday to enter the game with complete focus.
Question: Your opponents on Wednesday will be very aggressive and physical. After all, that’s what Atlético are known for.
Götze: It all depends. If we still manage to win the game 2-0 then I wouldn’t mind that all. It will be important for us to show up on Wednesday in Madrid, that we fight for every inch on the pitch and play to our best ability throughout the 90 minutes.
Question: Arturo Vidal was once again an important player for your team today and scored yet another goal.
Götze: That’s true. Arturo has scored several important goals for us, which is great for him and perfect for us - it’s what we need right now. He scored the opener again today, which was crucial. You can tell that he is playing at a high level. He fights for the team just like everyone else. Whoever scores our goals isn’t important at the end of the day.
FC Bayern München are on course for a record-breaking fourth straight league title after a 2-0 victory at Hertha BSC on Bundesliga matchday 31.
Mario Götze featured in the starting line-up and we spoke with the 50-times-capped Germany international about Bayern having to put the champagne on ice, the problems in their game and Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Atlético Madrid.
Question: Mr. Götze, congratulations on the 2-0 victory over Hertha BSC. Since Borussia Dortmund also won their game in Stuttgart, your lead at the top of the table remains at seven points. Are you a little sad that you weren’t able to celebrate the championship today?
Mario Götze: The most important thing for us was to collect the three points and we took another big step towards the title. Maybe this was even a good test for us, good preparation for Wednesday’s game. And perhaps it’s not such a bad thing that we can now win the Bundesliga title in our home stadium.
Question: Before next weekend’s home game with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern are set to face Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Will it be an even tougher game than in Berlin?
Götze: Playing against Hertha is not a walk in the park. They are a good side, especially at home on a pitch that was very slow. They defended quite deep and that always makes it difficult for us. We created very few chances, particularly in the first half.
Question: Why exactly is that? It appears to have happened to you more often recently.
Götze: Sometimes there are phases, like in the first half [on Saturday], where we simply don’t play well. But it’s also very difficult to find space against a team that defends with 10 players around their own box - it’s not the first time this has happened.
Question: Bayern’s flowing football has been lacking noticeably compared to the first half of the season, especially in your last three games.
Götze: But we collected nine points from those three games.
Question: Yes, you did get the maximum out of those games.
Götze: We often find our rhythm during a match. We scored three goals in the second half against Schalke last week and here against Hertha we scored both goals after the break as well. The coach made slight adjustments at half time and we know ourselves that we didn’t play all that well in the first half. It will be important on Wednesday to enter the game with complete focus.
Question: Your opponents on Wednesday will be very aggressive and physical. After all, that’s what Atlético are known for.
Götze: It all depends. If we still manage to win the game 2-0 then I wouldn’t mind that all. It will be important for us to show up on Wednesday in Madrid, that we fight for every inch on the pitch and play to our best ability throughout the 90 minutes.
Question: Arturo Vidal was once again an important player for your team today and scored yet another goal.
Götze: That’s true. Arturo has scored several important goals for us, which is great for him and perfect for us - it’s what we need right now. He scored the opener again today, which was crucial. You can tell that he is playing at a high level. He fights for the team just like everyone else. Whoever scores our goals isn’t important at the end of the day.
Question: Now all your focus is directed towards Wednesday.
Götze: We have to present ourselves in a clever fashion. We know what to expect, we are well prepared and want to play to our full potential.
