Xinhua Interview Philipp LAHM (Captain FC Bayern Munich)(2-last)

Xinhua: When will you start campaigning for the job as Bayern president?

Lahm: (laughing) "...hard to say (laughing again)....not before 2018, that' s for sure as I still have a contract as a player. But it is not secret that I can imagine taking up a position at Bayern after my carrier is over."

Xinhua: Again, why do you intend retiring in 2018?

Lahm: "When I signed my new contract right before the World Cup, I said then it is likely to be my last contract - now after retiring from the national team after winning the 2014 World Cup, everyone is talking about it. If I feel good in 2018 another year is a possibility - but generally speaking the day will come when I hang up my boots and I want to be prepared for that. And don' t forget, we are talking about a club like Bayern."

Xinhua: Meaning?

Lahm: "Well it' s a simple question of can you still be at the highest level at that age? You can' t decide something like that today."

Xinhua: How do you see your club' s strategy of growing into a global player meaning, to operate more intensively abroad alongside the home base in Germany?

Lahm: "First of all, we are the world' s biggest club in terms of members - there are over 250,000 at the moment. And we know, we have many fans and supporters in other countries like the US or China and Asia in general. I think they have the right to see the team live."

Xinhua: In summer Bayern will travel to China, as the team did 2 and a half years ago...

Lahm: "I unfortunately missed that trip. My wife was expecting and I did not want to miss the birth. I wanted to be at her side. But we have been to China with the national team in as far back as 2005. As I heard there are up to 60 to 70 million Bayern fans or supporters. For me it' s a great thought that the club and team travel there to pay tribute to their enthusiasm."

Xinhua: You retired from the national team (and thought about the right day to do so in advance), now you say you are preparing for the last day as a club player - are you a person that likes to be ahead of things and be prepared for what' s to come?

Lahm: "To that extent it is possible to do so - you can only try to do everything to have a good career. But in general I' m a person that likes to make decisions. That means you yourself are in charge of your life and nobody else. If I make a decision it is me that is doing making it. As for the end of my career, I don' t want to have the feeling I have lost all I had.

Xinhua: Are you considering a job as a coach?

Lahm: "Uhhh no, not a coach (laughing). And you know what: It' s all Pep Guardiola' s fault."

Xinhua: You have to explain that...

Lahm: "Seeing what he does (and other coaches), how much time he invests as a perfectionist in his daily work, football day and night, being out on the training pitch all day - I must say it' s nothing for me. I don' t want to run around 24/7 with only football in my mind."

Xinhua: Talking about Pep Guardiola. One of his aims is to "teach" his team an extremely high level of tactical flexibility, meaning change the system within a game more than once if necessary. Most teams stick to just one system?

Lahm: "Most teams do that, stick to one system. It' s not easy to change in a game and there aren' t many coaches are able to work like he does. You have to be prepared for what happens when you play three-man defense or one of four or other systems."

Xinhua: What' s it like to play with a goalkeeper like Manuel Neuer who stands for modern goalkeepers - meaning he' s sometimes more a field player operating way in front of goal?

Lahm: "I can tell you, it' s great to have a keeper like him, he is the world' s best keeper. He' s a part of the game not only looking to grab the ball with his hands. His skills like understanding the game and situation by intuition allow us to play like we do. The system leaves a lot of space and therefore you need a keeper like him."

Xinhua: When you (and others) return from injury, Pep Guardiola will find it harder to choose the first eleven. Do you expect - let' s say - sad faces?

Lahm: "To say it clearly: No. We are playing for a club like Bayern - and, if you sign for the club, you know there will be others of quality, and we all are happy about that because it means this is an ambitious team. If you want to get to the top you need a large squad - we all were reminded of that fact by the several injuries we' ve had recently. And on top of everything, it' s no bad thing to feel, there' s somebody snapping at your heels."

Xinhua: In your case the next questions can only be: How do you feel? How is your recovery going after your broken ankle?

Lahm: "Well let' s put it this way, I' m working on it and it looks good under the circumstances. I started with a running program."

Xinhua: Meaning you will be back soon?

Lahm: "It might take three four weeks or more until I can start with training with the team - you never know after such an injury how the muscles and the ankle will react. It' s been a while, since I was running on the pitch. Then the ball comes with it. So we' ll have to be patient."

Xinhua: That does not sound as if you will be back soon. Is there anything positive about an injury break?

Lahm: "I was at home for the last twelve weeks. It's a feeling I haven' t known during my carrier. Well to run around for seven weeks only on crutches is no fun - I can tell you."

Xinhua: How about the recovery training?

Lahm: "You want an honest answer?"

Xinhua: Be our whistleblower

Lahm: "Ok, you asked for it. You' re bored to death with recovery training. Sometimes you have to kick yourself like a mule to get yourself moving."

Xinhua: Meaning it' s a new kind of challenge for a world class player like you?

Lahm: "Well I' m fairly relaxed about the injury, I remind myself, I was ok for nine long years which is a long time and we have won several big titles."

Xinhua: Can you understand that there are still people that can' t believe that you did it?

Lahm: "Did what?"

Xinhua: Retire from the German national team. You' re 31, that' s no age to stop.

Lahm: "I was on the stage for a long time - more or less always. But there has to be a last day. What I didn' t want is for someone to say, well he is like an old apple not wanting to fall off the tree. I prefer to decide when it should be over. I had ten great years and I have a family at home."

Xinhua: You' re still motivated to carry on with Bayern Munich?

Lahm: (laughing) "Yes, you see I am still around. But...."

Xinhua:..... you' re not going to scare us again?

Lahm: . . . . (laughing) ". . . but maybe you can say it' s preparing the way for my definite career end."

Xinhua: And you play your final game at Bayern Munich in 2018 - no thoughts about moving abroad for one last fling?

Lahm: "Don' t think so, I' m not tahe person to do that - I' m basically a hometown boy. I' ve been with Bayern since 1995 and I' ll stop playing at Bayern."

Xinhua: A last hard question?

Lahm: (laughing) "Uhhhh, not again."

Xinhua: A last wish in your footballing life?

Lahm: "One? I have two, ok?"

Xinhua: You deserve two

Lahm: "Thank you. Well first: To win the Champions League once more. And: To see the German team win the 2016 European Championship sitting in front of the television with my mates - wonderful." Endi