When FC Bayern München hosts VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday in the Allianz Women's Bundesliga, it will be a showdown between two top teams and the favourites for this year's league title - each side is full of German and international stars.
In this interview with DFB.de, both teams' coaches discuss their differing views on which team is the favourite this season. However, Munich's Thomas Wörle and Wolfsburg's Ralf Kellermann also talk about their success in recent years, the increased level of play in the Bundesliga and how they’re looking forward to the upcoming encounter on Sunday.
DFB.de: Mr. Kellermann, Mr Wörle, what are your thoughts going into this top fixture?
Thomas Wörle: Most of all, I feel great anticipation as the last games between these two teams were all close battles. In my opinion, Wolfsburg are still the clearly stronger side individually and more experienced, but like in our recent meetings with them, we want show we’re a strong collective.
Ralf Kellermann: I haven't seen many of my players these past two weeks because they were on the road with their national teams. It's certainly not an ideal preparation for this top fixture, but we accept the situation. My colleague had the same worries as me but we also both looking forward to the game a lot.
DFB.de: Mr. Wörle, surely that’s a bit of an understatement? After all, your team has won the German championships twice in a row now.
Wörle: Obviously we are very happy to have had so much success these past two years and we know our strengths. But at the same time, we know that we earned these two championships with hard work against better and more experienced sides like Wolfsburg. It was a great achievement and we also had luck on our side. We are still developing, while Wolfsburg have been playing at the highest level both domestically and on the international stage.
DFB.de: Do you see it the same way, Mr. Kellermann?
Kellermann: No, and I do have to smile when I hear statements like that. For me, FC Bayern have formed a squad which is absolutely one of the best in Europe, but so have we. That's why I expect a real top clash between two even teams, we have something to put right after not managing a win against Bayern in our last six games - it's time we change that.
DFB.de: Mr. Kellermann, do you expect this season to be between Wolfsburg and FC Bayern?
Kellermann: I do think that these two teams will play for the title until the end, I've often said that Bayern have an equally large squad as we do. It's important to have a big squad as the Champions League is also about to start.
Wörle: I think there will be several teams in contention for the title this year as the league is becoming more even. I don't think it will be a duel between two teams, it's going to be an exciting season.
DFB.de: Would you agree that for most teams, a game against Wolfsburg and FC Bayern is one of the highlights of their season?
Wörle: I do get that impression; every team is highly motivated when they get to play against the defending champions FC Bayern. You can definitely feel that. We still have to get accustomed to this new role - it's the result of our good performances in the past. I view it as a big challenge and a chance to grow stronger.
Kellermann: I think that's completely normal. And like my colleague, I consider it to be a compliment - we have earned this status. Now it's our task to prove ourselves each week and to underline that games against VfL Wolfsburg really are one of the highlights of their season.
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When FC Bayern München hosts VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday in the Allianz Women's Bundesliga, it will be a showdown between two top teams and the favourites for this year's league title - each side is full of German and international stars.
In this interview with DFB.de, both teams' coaches discuss their differing views on which team is the favourite this season. However, Munich's Thomas Wörle and Wolfsburg's Ralf Kellermann also talk about their success in recent years, the increased level of play in the Bundesliga and how they’re looking forward to the upcoming encounter on Sunday.
DFB.de: Mr. Kellermann, Mr Wörle, what are your thoughts going into this top fixture?
Thomas Wörle: Most of all, I feel great anticipation as the last games between these two teams were all close battles. In my opinion, Wolfsburg are still the clearly stronger side individually and more experienced, but like in our recent meetings with them, we want show we’re a strong collective.
Ralf Kellermann: I haven't seen many of my players these past two weeks because they were on the road with their national teams. It's certainly not an ideal preparation for this top fixture, but we accept the situation. My colleague had the same worries as me but we also both looking forward to the game a lot.
DFB.de: Mr. Wörle, surely that’s a bit of an understatement? After all, your team has won the German championships twice in a row now.
Wörle: Obviously we are very happy to have had so much success these past two years and we know our strengths. But at the same time, we know that we earned these two championships with hard work against better and more experienced sides like Wolfsburg. It was a great achievement and we also had luck on our side. We are still developing, while Wolfsburg have been playing at the highest level both domestically and on the international stage.
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DFB.de: Do you see it the same way, Mr. Kellermann?
Kellermann: No, and I do have to smile when I hear statements like that. For me, FC Bayern have formed a squad which is absolutely one of the best in Europe, but so have we. That's why I expect a real top clash between two even teams, we have something to put right after not managing a win against Bayern in our last six games - it's time we change that.
DFB.de: Mr. Kellermann, do you expect this season to be between Wolfsburg and FC Bayern?
Kellermann: I do think that these two teams will play for the title until the end, I've often said that Bayern have an equally large squad as we do. It's important to have a big squad as the Champions League is also about to start.
Wörle: I think there will be several teams in contention for the title this year as the league is becoming more even. I don't think it will be a duel between two teams, it's going to be an exciting season.
DFB.de: Would you agree that for most teams, a game against Wolfsburg and FC Bayern is one of the highlights of their season?
Wörle: I do get that impression; every team is highly motivated when they get to play against the defending champions FC Bayern. You can definitely feel that. We still have to get accustomed to this new role - it's the result of our good performances in the past. I view it as a big challenge and a chance to grow stronger.
Kellermann: I think that's completely normal. And like my colleague, I consider it to be a compliment - we have earned this status. Now it's our task to prove ourselves each week and to underline that games against VfL Wolfsburg really are one of the highlights of their season.
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