Ottl: We have to take all three points

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

16.11.2006

Andreas Ottl broke into the first team last season with a commendable eight Bundesliga outings. The youngster has already surpassed that total by appearing in 11 of Bayern's 12 top-flight fixtures to date, and is a safe bet to make that a round dozen when leaders VfB Stuttgart visit the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Ahead of the match billed as the South German derby, fcbayern.de spoke to the club's third youngest senior pro, canvassing his views on the tight victory in Leverkusen, a restless crowd at the Allianz Arena, and Stuttgart's exciting young side - the third current leaders to visit Munich this term.

Interview: Andreas Ottl

fcbayern.de: Andreas, you've already seen off Nuremberg and Berlin, and on Saturday you welcome the latest Bundesliga leaders to the Allianz Arena. Technically, Bayern are not favourites to win the match, so how are you approaching the game?

Ottl: "Yes, it's a little out of the ordinary. Normally the rest are chasing up, but we're in the pack at the moment. We're four points behind Stuttgart, so it's vital we win on Saturday. We have to take all three points."

fcbayern.de: How do you rate your opponents?

Ottl: "They're on a roll, they're brimming with euphoria and they will be confident when they come to Munich. It's a very young team, they run hard and they're extremely enthusiastic. Striker Mario Gomez is rattling off the goals right now. We'll have to keep a close eye on him."

fcbayern.de: You must be grateful there was no Wednesday fixture this week.

Ottl: "We had two full days off, and I think that will have done everyone some good. It was a chance to recover from a tough few weeks, and it was also good news for the coach, as he's had a chance to get through plenty of work with us. We had almost the whole squad here in Munich, with just a couple away on international duty. I think we'll be in good form against VfB Stuttgart."

fcbayern.de: How relieved were the players after beating Leverkusen?

Ottl: "It was a crucial victory. Bremen slipped up, we spotted our chance and took it. Obviously we were aware of the turbulence around the club, but we just tried to maintain our belief and think positive. If we'd listened too hard to the media, we'd probably never have clawed our way back in Leverkusen. The fact we won it after going 2-1 down speaks volumes for our morale and attitude."

fcbayern.de: What do you think of the boos and whistles from the crowd at the last couple of home games?

Ottl: "Obviously you notice when the crowd gets restless. But the players weren't satisfied either. Against Stuttgart, we need to prove we have the desire, and get the fans in a positive mood by winning the match. A draw won't do. We need all three points."