Interview: Being with Bayern, like love affair: Franck Ribery

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has returned to action after 11 months of injury. In a recent interview with Xinhua, he talked about how he feels now and his future. Being on the bench for such a long time does not seem to have dampened his good spirits, quite on the contrary.

Ribery: (Laughing and jovial) Hey, hello, here I'm. I can see it in your faces, you thought Franck wasn't coming and that he'd gone home instead.

Xinhua: Well, that's an unusual start for an interview. You're making fun and we're yet to ask a question.

Ribery: That's me, always there when nobody is expecting me.

Xinhua: You're in a good mood ... I think we know why.

Ribery: I'm all ears.

Xinhua: You're back in action after a long injury break. And Franck Ribery without football is not Frank Ribery.

Ribery: After 11 months out of the game, I've had some games and playing time. It's the moments when you realize what you've been desperately missing. To play and train together with the team is another world compared to training on your own. You feel lonesome, I can tell you.

Xinhua: Many were surprised just how quick you returned to full action. Did we see Franck Ribery's fighting spirit?

Ribery: I'm happy about that. Eleven months is a long time. But to come back is something coming from my heart. I was sad not being a part of the squad. I did extra training to come back as fast as possible. I really missed something in my life.

Xinhua: Can you understand that some people thought you'd have more difficulties returning this time?

Ribery: Though I had doubts I was confident I'd get back. I knew it was going to be hard and a long road. But my mind was always confident and focused. Now that I'm back, I feel good and I'm in a good mood. Well, as I said, that's me. Football is fun.

Xinhua: You had to go through several injuries during the last two years. You never considered saying, 'Hey guys it's enough now'?

Ribery: No way. I always remember where I came from. I know it's something special to play football on this level and have a job like the one I've. As long as my body says yes, I will play. When I was younger, I played in the third league, I was on the street, I still have the hunger to play even after so many games and the success I've had so far.

Xinhua: You've learned to fight in your life?

Ribery: I tell you it's hard to sit on the bike or the stands while the others are training or playing. When the team is playing well and is winning the games, you are part of it, even sitting on the bench, but after an injury you feel lonesome.

Xinhua: Now the comedian Franck Ribery is back ...

Ribery: I'm a funny guy and I like to make fun, I think it's an important part of me. And my teammates benefit from it as well. It's important to stay in a good mood even when things get tight like they always do in the last weeks of a season.

Xinhua: Once you drove the team bus and crashed into a low wall or you hid behind the curtain and scared Bayern's doc, Dr. Braun ...

Ribery: ... (Laughing) ... did you see it. That was funny.

Xinhua: And the bus?

Ribery: Oh la la, I went to see Uli Hoeness right away and told him what happened and paid. But I had fun. Well that is me, I have to make fun.

Xinhua: You have a special relationship to David Alaba who is similar-minded when it comes to being a comedian. Do you feel you provide extra help to the younger ones in Bayern's squad?

Ribery: They know that I want them to make it. I want them to see what great chance they have to make it at Bayern and what a great opportunity this is for their lives. I know what it's like to be on the street. When I see how big their opportunity is, I kind of adopt them. I want to provide a positive atmosphere for them. I try to tell them that it's important to respect the situation. I mean being able to live a life as a football professional. As for David: I've known him since he was 16, he's like my little brother. I took him out to restaurants, we talked a lot about what is needed for his career. I'm like a person of respect for him.

Xinhua: Kinsley Coman said he wants to be the new Ribery soon? Can he?

Ribery: I hope he can and I'm optimistic he can. He's still young but he's a skillful player. We often talk about all this in French. It's great working together with such talented young players. They can learn a lot and it's great to talk to them and play with them. It's important for a team to have young players in the squad. And he's really good for his age.

Xinhua: Let us get back to the fighter Franck Ribery. How far are you right now on your way back, 100 percent already?

Ribery: I'm near 100 percent. But of course it's important to have match practice that gives you the rest of what you need.

Xinhua: We talked about the newcomers in the squad, like Kinsley Coman or Douglas Costa. Are they any danger for you regarding your place in the team?

Ribery: I'm like everyone else, I want to play. But in every big club you have rivals. To have a big squad is necessary especially at our level. Just look at last year when we had so many injured players. It's hard to get to the very top when you don't have enough players. On top we meanwhile have so many games and a player can't play all of them on the same level. Especially at the end of a season, there are many tough games.

Xinhua: So you are happy about rivals for you and Arjen Robben?

Ribery: That's what I said: Last year against Barcelona, Robben was injured, Alaba, I was. That is too much to compensate.

Xinhua: Meaning you don't fear you'll lose you place?

Ribery: I'm never afraid. I've been through too many things in my life. I always made it. I'm confident. And I know you sometimes need a break, we are no machines. Every single player does his bit for the squad.

Xinhua: As you mentioned last season in the semifinal of the Champions League, Bayern was not at the same level as Barcelona. Is that different this year?

Ribery: If everybody is on board, we're a top team. Javier Martinez is on his way back and Jerome Boateng. Then we are a really strong team.

Xinhua: Looking at a game like the one against Juventus Turin people ask themselves who will be able to stop FC Bayern Munich?

Ribery: We did not expect Juve to attack that offensively. We turned around a 2-0 deficit and scored four goals against a team that is especially strong in defense.

Xinhua: Meaning you've all got an extra boost now?

Ribery: I think, especially the younger ones now know what is possible. It gives you a lot after coming back from the dead like we did. You start to believe in yourself.

Xinhua: Is a team like Benfica Lisbon, which is not regarded as being one of the strongest teams amongst the quarterfinalists, a step in between for Bayern Munich?

Ribery: Maybe they are not as strong as Barca, Real, Paris or us, but they have reached the quarterfinals. They had tough games against St. Petersburg and that means they did a good job. They are a good team and there is no reason to think that it will be easy. It's our obligation to be fully concentrated. It will be important to take every minute seriously.

Xinhua: To win the Champions League would be something like a farewell present for Pep Guardiola.

Ribery: Oh, I think he has the same thoughts regarding the Champions League, he wants to win the competition of course. So let us call it a dream of us all.

Xinhua: It is not having any effect that he will leave in summer?

Ribery: Why should it. We're working together now and we want to win the games we have. That is a normal thing. Otherwise you won't get anywhere. We all know, now that we have reached the last eight, we have a great chance to win a major title. Who cares about next summer under these circumstances? We're all ambitious and want to be successful this season. Even when a coach stays for longer, you don't think about the next season.

Xinhua: You have played for Bayern Munich since 2007. Nine long years. It's longer than as you've ever played for other clubs, how come?

Ribery: I had offers from other clubs, big names, but Uli Hoeness said no, there is no chance. I'm happy about that. This club has done a lot for me, especially when I was having a hard time. I appreciate that very much. You don't get that everywhere. That's why I say: Money is not everything. Bayern will always be a very special club for me. The fans love me and I love them. Call it a love affair. I think it's something like that.

Xinhua: Once you said after your contract runs out in 2017 you would not want to join another club in Europe?

Ribery: It's hard to tell what will happen in the future, but that's what is in my mind. Maybe I play somewhere abroad when I still can get out of my bed in the morning (laughing). But Bayern is my club. Endi