BayernForum.com

23.02.2007

Klaus Augenthaler won the Bundesliga title seven times, the German Cup three times, and contested two European Champions Cup finals as a Bayern player. The 49-year-old also began his coaching career in Munich, spending a total of 21 years at the club.

The man fondly known as "Auge" currently occupies the hot seat at VfL Wolfsburg. Saturday sees his first trip to the Allianz Arena when his Wolves side visit Bavaria to take on the Reds. <b>fcbayern.de</b> spoke to Augenthaler about returning to Munich, Saturday's match, and his targets with Wolfsburg.

<b>Interview: Klaus Augenthaler</b>

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> You left Bayern nine and a half years ago. Are matches against your former club still special?

<b><i>Klaus Augenthaler:</i></b> "I've come up against Bayern often enough now, but naturally it's still a special occasion. You never forget twenty-one years spent at Bayern, even if there aren't many people left from my day."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> What memories will spring to mind on Saturday?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "Very few. There's one radical difference to the past, the Allianz Arena. I triumphed with Bayern at the Olympic stadium. I don't associate the Allianz Arena with former glories or victories. I went there twice during the World Cup, but I've never coached a side there against Bayern."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> You led the Wolves to victory over Bayern at home last autumn. Did you feel even the slightest tinge of regret?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "Why should I? It wasn't Augenthaler versus Bayern, it was Wolfsburg against Munich. We were bottom of the league, and those were three bonus points for us, because no-one gave us a chance."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> What's your plan to repeat that triumph?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "Our recent form proves we can compete with anyone in footballing terms. But you always respect Munich when you go there. I think you need courage to get a result."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> How important is former Berlin playmaker Marcelinho?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "We all saw what an outstanding player he is on his first day at the club, but he doesn't act the superstar either. He's prepared to put in the work, and he knows he wouldn't have got where he has without his team-mates. So the team took to him at once."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> You loaned Paraguay international Julio Dos Santos from Bayern for the second half of the season with a view to using him as playmaker, but he broke a leg and he's still on the sidelines.

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "It's a real shame for the lad, I was very upset for him. We're keeping in touch. Loaning him for a few months and then seeing how it went would have been perfect, but now we'll have to wait and see."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> What do you want to achieve with Wolfsburg?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "My goal is to lay the foundations for sporting success, creating a team capable of attractive and winning football, perhaps even making it into Europe. A team which attracts a decent crowd and entertains the fans."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> And in the short term?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "Our target at the start of the season was finishing in the top ten, but it all went wrong from last summer onwards. A new signing dropped out with illness, a key player broke a leg on the first day back in training, another was injured on matchday one, and striker Diego Klimowicz suffered the same fate on matchday four. So we never got going. It'll be tough to hit our target, but it's not impossible."

<b>fcbayern.de:</b> One last question: can Bayern still win the league?

<b><i>Augenthaler:</i></b> "I know Bayern inside and out. I understand the mentality, and I've been through similar situations at the club. I know Bayern will never give up. There are still plenty of games left, and the others will lose a few times as well."