Interview: China is inspiring for all of Bayern Munich: Philipp Lahm (1)

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm said in an interview with Xinhua on Friday that his team's upcoming visit to China might be a good omen for the new season.

In the interview, he also talked about Bastian Schweinsteiger's reported transfer to Manchester United, the team's ambitions for the upcoming season, his little son and his love of Chinese food.

XINHUA: Your Chinese fans love your son and want to know, if you want Julian to be a football player in the future? And what position do you want him to play?

Lahm: At first he is well and he's about to go to kindergarten. Regarding football, there is no must. He must go to kindergarten and after that attend school. If you ask me he does not need to be a professional player later. Important for me is that he has fun whatever he is doing. As for the position, it is the same.

XINHUA: Meaning it does not matter if he is a right back or plays in midfield, both positions his father has played in?

Lahm (laughing): You are right I have seen quite something on the pitch as far as positions are concerned. He could even play left back then. If he decides to be a footballer, he will get our full support. But we as parents are patient knowing there so many things to try.

XINHUA: Which Chinese dish is your favorite or do you try the most - we know you are an artist with chopsticks and have no problem speaking Chinese?

Lahm (laughing): Definitely duck when we go to a Chinese restaurant - duck is always something special, vegetables with it - oh, that's excellent. But it has to be done by an expert. Well done, fried at its best. That's what I go for very often. I love it.

XINHUA: Will you consider about playing in the Chinese football league in the future or become a coach of a Chinese football team?

Lahm: Sorry, but both is no possibility for me. Not because it is China, that would be the same regarding any other country. The reason is that I have decided to finish my career in Munich. I have been a member of this club and team since 1995, with only two years away at VfB Stuttgart at the beginning of my career. It is certain I will stop playing in Munich, and I can't imagine returning to a football pitch every day after retiring. Never say never, but at the moment it's nothing I am considering.

XINHUA: Is there any possibility that you will return to the German national team, including joining the Olympic team?

Lahm: The national team is a definite decision, I thought about it for a long time. If I make decisions, I stick to them. It was no overnight decision, it was one made after weeks and month of thinking about it. Regarding the Olympic Games: That never has been a topic for me. Some started to write about it. But I know the effort was put in by those who qualified and I would be the last to demand a place in that team and someone else would have to stay home instead. The under-21 Juniors have invested a lot of effort and deserve to participate at a great and very special sports event.

XINHUA: You are artistic with chopsticks and your Chinese is brilliant as we heard - it is a pity that you missed your club's last China tour in 2012...

Lahm (laughing): ... for good reason as you know, my wife was pregnant and we expected Julian to show up at the time. For nothing in the world did I want to be far away at that time. I was allowed to stay home and missed the tour, but not Julian. (More