Record cup winner Bayern have made it to the quarter finals. They beat Darmstadt 1-0 last night thanks to a wonder goal from Xabi Alonso. Thomas Müller did not get on the score sheet, but he was, however, beaming after the match. In an interview, he spoke about the narrow victory, the end of the first half of the season, head coach Pep Guardiola and the EURO 2016 group, which was drawn on Saturday.
Question: Mr. Müller, it was a hard-fought, tricky match but you prevailed 1-0 and are into the quarters. Why was the game such difficult-going?
Thomas Müller: We were playing a team who didn’t have any intentions of attacking. It was intense and we tried hard to do things right and created a few dangerous situations. We didn’t win 5-0 but they did everything they possibly could to make our lives difficult. That’s the thrill of football. It wasn’t easy, but we won through a wonder goal from Xabi. I wouldn’t have kept it out (laughs).
Question: Your captain, Philipp Lahm, thought that they defended with six players.
Müller: Darmstadt had around six players in defense at any given time and it was clear that we weren’t going to get many chances. I think we were alright. It was never going to be a goal fest but we can live with it. Winning 1-0 isn’t that bad an I will go home happy.
Question: You get the feeling that the team are now longing for the winter break.
Müller: Two weeks holiday will do everyone good and I need it. When you compare the last game to the phase in which we won four games in a row scoring five goals, it was much more difficult. But that’s normal in football. We have a few more fit players.
Question: The last game of the season is on Saturday. What are you expecting?
Müller: We’ve got a good squad with a lot of character and we all give everything for the team. We will pull ourselves together and then go again against Hannover. We don’t have many players left but everyone will give their all.
Question: What do you think… Will Pep Guardiola stay or has it been the plan that he will leave after his third season?
Müller: What I think is not important. I hope he’ll stay but I don’t know. Everything about this subject has already been said. In January I can say what I thought would happen.
Question: What do you want for Christmas?
Müller: Three points on Saturday! Other than that, good health and a good rest.
Question: Last weekend the draw for the European Championship was made. Germany have Ukraine, Northern Ireland and Poland in their group. Will Poland be the most difficult?
Müller: It will be a great and exciting game in the group stage. Poland are a good side. I think the group is okay. Our goal is to get through the group stage and then it will be exciting in the round of 16.
Question: Have you spoken about it yet with teammate Robert Lewandowski?
Müller: Of course you joke around a bit. Robert also knows that Germany have a good team.
[mmc/alc]
Record cup winner Bayern have made it to the quarter finals. They beat Darmstadt 1-0 last night thanks to a wonder goal from Xabi Alonso. Thomas Müller did not get on the score sheet, but he was, however, beaming after the match. In an interview, he spoke about the narrow victory, the end of the first half of the season, head coach Pep Guardiola and the EURO 2016 group, which was drawn on Saturday.
Question: Mr. Müller, it was a hard-fought, tricky match but you prevailed 1-0 and are into the quarters. Why was the game such difficult-going?
Thomas Müller: We were playing a team who didn’t have any intentions of attacking. It was intense and we tried hard to do things right and created a few dangerous situations. We didn’t win 5-0 but they did everything they possibly could to make our lives difficult. That’s the thrill of football. It wasn’t easy, but we won through a wonder goal from Xabi. I wouldn’t have kept it out (laughs).
Question: Your captain, Philipp Lahm, thought that they defended with six players.
Müller: Darmstadt had around six players in defense at any given time and it was clear that we weren’t going to get many chances. I think we were alright. It was never going to be a goal fest but we can live with it. Winning 1-0 isn’t that bad an I will go home happy.
Question: You get the feeling that the team are now longing for the winter break.
Müller: Two weeks holiday will do everyone good and I need it. When you compare the last game to the phase in which we won four games in a row scoring five goals, it was much more difficult. But that’s normal in football. We have a few more fit players.
Question: The last game of the season is on Saturday. What are you expecting?
Müller: We’ve got a good squad with a lot of character and we all give everything for the team. We will pull ourselves together and then go again against Hannover. We don’t have many players left but everyone will give their all.
Question: What do you think… Will Pep Guardiola stay or has it been the plan that he will leave after his third season?
Müller: What I think is not important. I hope he’ll stay but I don’t know. Everything about this subject has already been said. In January I can say what I thought would happen.
Question: What do you want for Christmas?
Müller: Three points on Saturday! Other than that, good health and a good rest.
Question: Last weekend the draw for the European Championship was made. Germany have Ukraine, Northern Ireland and Poland in their group. Will Poland be the most difficult?
Müller: It will be a great and exciting game in the group stage. Poland are a good side. I think the group is okay. Our goal is to get through the group stage and then it will be exciting in the round of 16.
Question: Have you spoken about it yet with teammate Robert Lewandowski?
Müller: Of course you joke around a bit. Robert also knows that Germany have a good team.
