The first midweek fixture of the new Bundesliga season takes place on Tuesday night, when Bayern Munich travel to SC Freiburg (live on Sky at 18.30) looking to add another victory to the 2-0 weekend success against Nürnberg. Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger talked to DFB.de about the patience required to overcome the men from Nuremberg last Saturday, summer signing Mario Götze's league debut for Bayern, the Freiburg clash and the UEFA Super Cup meeting with Chelsea in Prague on Friday (live on ZDF at 20.45), and Franck Ribéry's prospects in the vote for European Player of the Year.
DFB.de: Bastian Schweinsteiger, was Bayern's main problem against Nürnberg a failure to take the chances on offer?
Bastian Schweinsteiger: We knew Nürnberg would basically set out their stall and defend. I’d agree we maybe didn't convert enough of our chances, although at least we created plenty of openings, and that's good. You need patience to settle a game like that, although we certainly could have scored a goal or two earlier in the game. But it was obvious we were capable of shifting up a gear after half-time.
DFB.de: What did you think of Mario Götze's Bundesliga debut for Bayern?
Schweinsteiger: It was good. He did very well for his first match. Mario is an intelligent player, and he puts that to good use out on the field. He's a great new asset for us, and we're going to enjoy having him with us.
DFB.de: You have a game every three days for the first time this season. Is this a chance for rotation, using the depth in the Bayern squad?
Schweinsteiger:We have a very good squad, and we'll need every player.
DFB.de: You travel to SC Freiburg on Tuesday in the fixture brought forward to accommodate the UEFA Super Cup. Are Freiburg awkward opponents?
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The first midweek fixture of the new Bundesliga season takes place on Tuesday night, when Bayern Munich travel to SC Freiburg (live on Sky at 18.30) looking to add another victory to the 2-0 weekend success against Nürnberg. Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger talked to DFB.de about the patience required to overcome the men from Nuremberg last Saturday, summer signing Mario Götze's league debut for Bayern, the Freiburg clash and the UEFA Super Cup meeting with Chelsea in Prague on Friday (live on ZDF at 20.45), and Franck Ribéry's prospects in the vote for European Player of the Year.
DFB.de: Bastian Schweinsteiger, was Bayern's main problem against Nürnberg a failure to take the chances on offer?
Bastian Schweinsteiger: We knew Nürnberg would basically set out their stall and defend. I’d agree we maybe didn't convert enough of our chances, although at least we created plenty of openings, and that's good. You need patience to settle a game like that, although we certainly could have scored a goal or two earlier in the game. But it was obvious we were capable of shifting up a gear after half-time.
DFB.de: What did you think of Mario Götze's Bundesliga debut for Bayern?
Schweinsteiger: It was good. He did very well for his first match. Mario is an intelligent player, and he puts that to good use out on the field. He's a great new asset for us, and we're going to enjoy having him with us.
DFB.de: You have a game every three days for the first time this season. Is this a chance for rotation, using the depth in the Bayern squad?
Schweinsteiger:We have a very good squad, and we'll need every player.
DFB.de: You travel to SC Freiburg on Tuesday in the fixture brought forward to accommodate the UEFA Super Cup. Are Freiburg awkward opponents?
Schweinsteiger: Freiburg are very strong at home, and they've come on really well under coach Christian Streich, which makes them dangerous. We'll have to be fully focused, and just like Saturday, we might have to be patient until the 70th minute before settling the outcome. The most important thing at the moment is the points
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DFB.de: Is Friday’s European Super Cup final against Chelsea in Prague a factor?
Schweinsteiger: We have to shut it out. We're professional enough, and at the moment, our focus is on SC Freiburg.
DFB.de: Franck Ribéry unexpectedly emerged as an aerial powerhouse against Nürnberg. Will that help him in the vote for European Player of the Year?
Schweinsteiger: I'd really like Franck to win the award. He had a terrific season and we won lots of trophies, so he may just have the edge over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But you never know who’ll win. I'd definitely like it to be Franck.
