When it comes to the lone striker’s role at VfL Wolfsburg, Ivica Olic is the undoubted first choice. The 34-year-old has an unerring nose for goal, not to mention an iron will to win and seemingly limitless stamina. The Croatian is hoping to once again show his qualities in the DFB Cup quarter-finals against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim this Wednesday and, after scoring twice against them in the Bundesliga this term, is heading to Sinsheim full of confidence.
Yet having already overcome second-tier sides Karlsruher SC, VfR Aalen and FC Ingolstadt 04 in the cup, the Wolves are now facing their first Bundesliga opponents in Hoffenheim. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Olic tells Oliver Jensen about the upcoming clash, his future and Wolfsburg’s winter signing Kevin de Bruyne.
DFB.de: Ivica Olic, how tough do you think Wednesday’s tie in Hoffenheim will be?
Ivica Olic: Hoffenheim are always difficult to predict. They can beat anyone, but they can also lose to anyone. I personally think they’re a strong side, especially in attack. They’re always good for a goal and it’s not going to be easy for us.
DFB.de: The last meeting took place on Matchday 6 of the Bundesliga. You scored both in a 2-1 victory – a positive omen?/p>
Olic: I remember the game well. We were 1-0 down but managed to turn the match. We need to be careful and prevent them from counterattacking. We can’t afford them too much space either. Hoffenheim have two very quick forwards in Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland - both can be dangerous.
DFB.de: You won the DFB Cup in 2010 with FC Bayern München. How important is the competition in your eyes?
Olic: The DFB Cup is the quickest way into Europe and to a title. I’ve played in two finals in Berlin. In 2010 we won (4-0 against SV Werder Bremen, ed.) and lost two years later (5-2 against Borussia Dortmund, ed.). The atmosphere in Berlin is always fantastic. It would be great to reach another final with Wolfsburg.
DFB.de: Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim have been criticised by many football fans for a lack of tradition, as well as heavy investment from the world of business. You’ve played at traditional clubs like Bayern and Hamburger SV. Is there really much of a difference?
Olic: Not necessarily. Of course Hamburg are a great club with a nice stadium and lots of fans. I had a good time there. In Munich I enjoyed the most successful phase of my career with the Bundesliga title, the DFB Cup win and two Champions League finals. The main difference is that I was playing in Europe with all my previous clubs and that’s yet to happen with Wolfsburg. That’s the only thing I miss from my former clubs.
DFB.de: Diego left the club during the winter for Atletico Madrid, with another attacking midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, arriving to replace him. How much will Wolfsburg’s game change as a result?
Olic: Our system won’t change dramatically. Of course they’re two different kinds of players – Kevin is someone who likes to run deep, while Diego is more of a technician, good on the ball and someone who can control games. We’ve lost a top player in Diego, but gained another in Kevin, so ultimately we’re at a similar level.
DFB.de: The arrival of De Bruyne sparked discussion as to whether Wolfsburg could become a major competitor to FC Bayern in the coming years. What’s your opinion on that?
Olic: It’s difficult to say. At the moment, Bayern are on another level compared with the rest of the Bundesliga. We’ve shown with signings like Luiz Gustavo and Kevin de Bruyne that we want to compete at the very top, but that doesn’t mean the title is our immediate aim. We have the potential to compete amongst the top teams in the mid-term but it’s impossible to predict what the situation will be in five years’ time. Our current goal is to get Wolfsburg into Europe on a regular basis.
DFB.de: Has Wolfsburg’s form so far in 2014 put a dampener your excellent first half of the season?
Olic: Of course we’d have hoped for better. We played quite well against Hannover or Schalke, but unfortunately still lost both games.
DFB.de: At the beginning of the season you came in for some criticism, with various media representatives claiming you weren’t capable of playing as a lone frontman. Do you feel you’ve proved them wrong with your eight goals so far this term?
Olic: Of course I heard the criticisms and it did make me wonder, but I’ve been in football long enough. I knew I was training well and feeling good, so I had no doubts the goals would flow. I had a good pre-season and I’m feeling fresh, fast and fit.
DFB.de: Did you think the criticism was unfair?
Olic: It’s all part of the game. If a striker doesn’t score for two or three games running, criticism can be quick to surface.
DFB.de: Your contract runs out in the summer. What are your plans for next season and beyond?
Olic: Maybe I’ll stay in Wolfsburg. Maybe I’ll play somewhere else. I still have a few weeks to think about it. There will certainly be talks with the Wolfsburg management soon.
DFB.de: How long do you want to go on playing? You’ll be 35 in September…
Olic: I’m taking it one year at a time. It makes no sense for me to say now that I’m going to go on playing for two or three more years, but I’m still enjoying my football. My immediate goal is to go to the World Cup and play well there.
DFB.de: Do you still feel as fit as you did a few years ago?
Olic: If I play the full 90 minutes I do feel it the next day – certainly more so than a few years ago. I need two or three days to get back up to my normal level.
DFB.de: And then you feel as fit as a 25-year-old…
Olic: I can still keep up with my team-mates in training pretty well…
DFB.de: Tell us more…
Olic: Well, sprints, for example. I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of there. I’m definitely among the three fastest in our team, which is important for a striker. If only it would stay that way forever… (laughs).
DFB.de: Final question: Your former club Hamburg are also in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, but they’re struggling for survival in the Bundesliga. Are you worried about your old team?
Olic: Yes, it’s a shame. My wife and one of my sons are still big Hamburg fans. I always keep an eye on their results too. As I said before, I had a great time in Hamburg, it was one of the best periods of my career, so it hurts to see them so far down the table. The club is steeped in tradition and has some great fans – so, there’s huge potential. I hope they stay up and improve over the next few years. A club like that should be competing at the other end of the table.
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When it comes to the lone striker’s role at VfL Wolfsburg, Ivica Olic is the undoubted first choice. The 34-year-old has an unerring nose for goal, not to mention an iron will to win and seemingly limitless stamina. The Croatian is hoping to once again show his qualities in the DFB Cup quarter-finals against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim this Wednesday and, after scoring twice against them in the Bundesliga this term, is heading to Sinsheim full of confidence.
Yet having already overcome second-tier sides Karlsruher SC, VfR Aalen and FC Ingolstadt 04 in the cup, the Wolves are now facing their first Bundesliga opponents in Hoffenheim. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Olic tells Oliver Jensen about the upcoming clash, his future and Wolfsburg’s winter signing Kevin de Bruyne.
DFB.de: Ivica Olic, how tough do you think Wednesday’s tie in Hoffenheim will be?
Ivica Olic: Hoffenheim are always difficult to predict. They can beat anyone, but they can also lose to anyone. I personally think they’re a strong side, especially in attack. They’re always good for a goal and it’s not going to be easy for us.
DFB.de: The last meeting took place on Matchday 6 of the Bundesliga. You scored both in a 2-1 victory – a positive omen?/p>
Olic: I remember the game well. We were 1-0 down but managed to turn the match. We need to be careful and prevent them from counterattacking. We can’t afford them too much space either. Hoffenheim have two very quick forwards in Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland - both can be dangerous.
DFB.de: You won the DFB Cup in 2010 with FC Bayern München. How important is the competition in your eyes?
Olic: The DFB Cup is the quickest way into Europe and to a title. I’ve played in two finals in Berlin. In 2010 we won (4-0 against SV Werder Bremen, ed.) and lost two years later (5-2 against Borussia Dortmund, ed.). The atmosphere in Berlin is always fantastic. It would be great to reach another final with Wolfsburg.
DFB.de: Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim have been criticised by many football fans for a lack of tradition, as well as heavy investment from the world of business. You’ve played at traditional clubs like Bayern and Hamburger SV. Is there really much of a difference?
Olic: Not necessarily. Of course Hamburg are a great club with a nice stadium and lots of fans. I had a good time there. In Munich I enjoyed the most successful phase of my career with the Bundesliga title, the DFB Cup win and two Champions League finals. The main difference is that I was playing in Europe with all my previous clubs and that’s yet to happen with Wolfsburg. That’s the only thing I miss from my former clubs.
DFB.de: Diego left the club during the winter for Atletico Madrid, with another attacking midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, arriving to replace him. How much will Wolfsburg’s game change as a result?
Olic: Our system won’t change dramatically. Of course they’re two different kinds of players – Kevin is someone who likes to run deep, while Diego is more of a technician, good on the ball and someone who can control games. We’ve lost a top player in Diego, but gained another in Kevin, so ultimately we’re at a similar level.
DFB.de: The arrival of De Bruyne sparked discussion as to whether Wolfsburg could become a major competitor to FC Bayern in the coming years. What’s your opinion on that?
Olic: It’s difficult to say. At the moment, Bayern are on another level compared with the rest of the Bundesliga. We’ve shown with signings like Luiz Gustavo and Kevin de Bruyne that we want to compete at the very top, but that doesn’t mean the title is our immediate aim. We have the potential to compete amongst the top teams in the mid-term but it’s impossible to predict what the situation will be in five years’ time. Our current goal is to get Wolfsburg into Europe on a regular basis.
DFB.de: Has Wolfsburg’s form so far in 2014 put a dampener your excellent first half of the season?
Olic: Of course we’d have hoped for better. We played quite well against Hannover or Schalke, but unfortunately still lost both games.
DFB.de: At the beginning of the season you came in for some criticism, with various media representatives claiming you weren’t capable of playing as a lone frontman. Do you feel you’ve proved them wrong with your eight goals so far this term?
Olic: Of course I heard the criticisms and it did make me wonder, but I’ve been in football long enough. I knew I was training well and feeling good, so I had no doubts the goals would flow. I had a good pre-season and I’m feeling fresh, fast and fit.
DFB.de: Did you think the criticism was unfair?
Olic: It’s all part of the game. If a striker doesn’t score for two or three games running, criticism can be quick to surface.
DFB.de: Your contract runs out in the summer. What are your plans for next season and beyond?
Olic: Maybe I’ll stay in Wolfsburg. Maybe I’ll play somewhere else. I still have a few weeks to think about it. There will certainly be talks with the Wolfsburg management soon.
DFB.de: How long do you want to go on playing? You’ll be 35 in September…
Olic: I’m taking it one year at a time. It makes no sense for me to say now that I’m going to go on playing for two or three more years, but I’m still enjoying my football. My immediate goal is to go to the World Cup and play well there.
DFB.de: Do you still feel as fit as you did a few years ago?
Olic: If I play the full 90 minutes I do feel it the next day – certainly more so than a few years ago. I need two or three days to get back up to my normal level.
DFB.de: And then you feel as fit as a 25-year-old…
Olic: I can still keep up with my team-mates in training pretty well…
DFB.de: Tell us more…
Olic: Well, sprints, for example. I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of there. I’m definitely among the three fastest in our team, which is important for a striker. If only it would stay that way forever… (laughs).
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DFB.de: Final question: Your former club Hamburg are also in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, but they’re struggling for survival in the Bundesliga. Are you worried about your old team?
Olic: Yes, it’s a shame. My wife and one of my sons are still big Hamburg fans. I always keep an eye on their results too. As I said before, I had a great time in Hamburg, it was one of the best periods of my career, so it hurts to see them so far down the table. The club is steeped in tradition and has some great fans – so, there’s huge potential. I hope they stay up and improve over the next few years. A club like that should be competing at the other end of the table.
