"Dynamic Dutch Duo" Interview, Part 1

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1361 votes: 2

07.10.2006

In the 106-year history of Bayern Munich there have never been two Dutch players in the quad at the same time, until this summer. Just before the transfer window closed, Bayern scored a coup by luring Mark van Bommel away from Barcelona to Munich, where his old friend Roy Makaay was waiting for him. By all accounts his fellow countryman played a role in the high-profile transfer.

fcbayern.de wanted to get to the bottom of the transfer story and met with the Dutch stars for an interview. The first part of the interview principally covers current sporting issues. And in part 2, to be published here on Monday evening, the players share their experiences of being Dutch players in Spain and Germany and explain how their friendship came about.

Interview with the “Dynamic Dutch Duo”, part 1

fcbayern.de: Mark, what role did Roy play in your move to Bayern Munich?
Mark van Bommel: “Bayern Munich have made a few approaches for me in the past, even when I was at Eindhoven. The first offer from Bayern didn’t go through as I had already signed for Barcelona. The second time they approached me Barcelona didn’t want to let me go. When they asked me a third time I told the Barca bosses quite clearly that I wanted a transfer to Bayern Munich. Roy was a good intermediary in the whole affair. He told me what a great club Bayern Munich is and that he thought it would be good if I joined. But he always let me make my own decision. And now, here I am.“
Roy Makaay: “I think the club realised that they could do with an extra midfielder and Mark sprang to mind. The Bayern bosses then made contact with him via our joint advisor, Rob Jansen. He tested the water with Barcelona and the whole thing really got going a couple of days before our friendly in Barcelona. After that everything happened really fast.“

fcbayern.de: But it wasn’t just your friendship with Roy that made you move to Munich, was it?
Van Bommel: “No. My situation at Barcelona had changed since my first season there. The trainer told me that he wanted to rotate the squad more in future. I wasn’t very keen on that idea and told them that I wanted a transfer. But anyway, I am obviously really pleased to be playing alongside Roy at Bayern Munich. Barcelona was a good time for me but I’m sure it will be great here in Munich too.“

fcbayern.de: How do you feel that you have been accepted by Bayern Munich, Mark?
Van Bommel: „Very well. I think people are pleased that I am here. The team integrated me straight away and they are a great group of lads. Also the other people at the club have made me feel very welcome and given me all the help I’ve needed.“
Makaay: „Mark’s integration in the team was easy, particularly because he can speak the two most important languages at the club – German and Spanish.“

fcbayern.de: Expectations of you are high. The club wants you to play a leading role on the pitch and stamp your mark on the whole team.
Van Bommel: „I am trying to play the way I always play. I was asked to join the club because of the qualities I have. I haven’t put in any brilliant performances yet but I have definitely been able to help the team. I think that I’ve been OK so far but I can play even better.“
Makaay: „Mark has already scored some important goals. He is gelling more and more with the team during every game and has shown us what he can do. I’m sure he will be a great help to us in the future.“

fcbayern.de: Mark, you won last year’s Champions League with Barcelona. How far do you think Bayern Munich can go on the international stage?
Van Bommel: „It’s difficult to say. You do need some luck, as we had at Barcelona last year. In the knock-out stages we always played the second leg at home, which is an advantage. And in the semi-final against AC Milan we were lucky because one of their goals was disallowed. Otherwise it would have been difficult for us.“

fcbayern.de: Bayern has made a good start in this year’s Champions League, but in the Bundesliga you have had two successive away defeats which coach Felix Magath is putting down to problems in the attacking line-up.
Makaay: „I don’t think that it’s purely a striker problem. The whole team must work at creating more goal chances and then taking them.“
Van Bommel: „Roy is right. Our problem against Wolfsburg was that we had very few chances. But this is not down to the quality of individual players, particularly not the strikers. Our four strikers are all first class but there are always phases in a season when you can’t score. Generally we need to put the attackers in better scoring positions and then they will start finding the back of the net again.“
Interview for fcbayern.de by Dirk Hauser