Interview: China is inspiring for all of Bayern Munich: Philipp Lahm (2)

XINHUA: In China you are one of the most admired Bayern players. And this time you are on board, how much are you looking forward when it comes to your first China trip?

Lahm: Oh that is something very special to me. It is a country very far away from home and on top - to know there is such a great amount of Bayern fans - up to 90 million as I heard - is thrilling. 90 million that's more than Germany has inhabitants. The whole team, including me, is very much looking forward to the trip. We have a tight schedule and three games within a week, but in between we will meet a lot of fans and interesting people. We are prepared to have fun.

XINHUA: Looking at your tight schedule, is it possible at all to get to know a foreign country?

Lahm: You might not have time to go on a sightseeing tour, but you get a deep impression of a country and its people. We don't sit in the hotel looking at the floor all time or in the bus not looking outside. If you do a trip like that you get to know people in a certain way, but you do. You learn something no matter how tight your schedule is. After all we know what fans do to see us, meaning long journeys to see a game. Most fans in China don't have the possibility to see us in Germany, to play well is an obligation.

XINHUA: A trip like that does not interrupt the pre-season preparations?

Lahm: We have been in action for two weeks already, so we have laid a fundament already, and it is only a week. Despite that we are determined to play on a high level.

XINHUA: So the trip can be seen as a combination of vacation and work, and on top of everything, it strengthens the team spirit?

Lahm (laughing): I cannot remember having had such a long vacation as I have had this year. Not being in the national team anymore made the vacation nice and long. Now we are bound for the new season, and you are right a week together strengthens the team spirit.

XINHUA: Meaning you are looking forward very much to see China and its football fans?

Lahm: Oh yes definitely. Thinking about it, you are right, it is a great opportunity to combine work and leisure.

XINHUA: Millions of Chinese are football fans and the country is about to set up a football development program, which means football is a vital part in elementary schools and others. How did your football life start, as we remember your mother had to suffer as you forced her to be your goalkeeper in the drive way?

Lahm (laughing): She did not suffer, well not too much. But times have changed. I was home from school as early around 12:30. I went outside to play football, well after my homework was done. But today kids stay longer in kindergarten or school, meaning they might have less time and a different time management is needed. But not everyone is as keen on football as I was. It is a great sport but there are alternatives like other sports or cultural activities. Football or not was not a question for me of course. But I would have loved to have had football as a subject in school. That would have granted me a good mark by the way. (laughing) (Mo