Interview: Bayern striker happy about the "Robben move"

Dutch international Arjen Robben played for FC Chelsea and Real Madrid before joining FC Bayern Munich in 2009. The 32-year-old won national titles in Spain, England, the Netherlands and Germany. In 2013 he scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for Bayern. In a recent Xinhua interview the striker said he will stick to the famous "Robben move" despite it is well known. "It still works, therefore it must be good."

The following is the full text of his recent interview with Xinhua.

Xinhua: We have to start with a provocative question.

Robben: (laughing) Now I' m listening.

Xinhua: We talked to a former player that saw your last Bundesliga goal. It was a typical Robben. You moved in from the right and hammered the ball into the back of the net. And he said: He always does the same. It can' t be that hard to defend as it' s always the same. Your reply?

Robben: (laughing) Well, as long as it works, it must be good. If a striker does the same thing over and over again and it starts to become a problem because it doesn' t work anymore, you have to start thinking about it. But as long as it works, why not keep on doing it.

Xinhua: Why is the special Robben move still that hard to defend?

Robben: (smiling) I don' t know. Maybe we should talk to defenders about that?

Xinhua: No one around to ask, so it is up to you...

Robben: I think the most important thing is, to always come up with surprises. Meaning: Don' t always do the same and have as much variety in your game as possible. It' s what I' m trying to do. Sometimes I play a pass, sometimes I try to get behind the defense down the flanks. As I said, surprise is what counts.

Xinhua: If you asked people to do a special Robben thing nearly everyone would do the move coming in from the right. Have you ever thought about patenting it?

Robben: (laughing) I don' t even know if that would be possible, but I have no intention of trying. It' s nice that a special move is connected to your name in football and people talk about it when your name is mentioned. And that' s all there is to it.

Xinhua: Do you remember when you started with the Robben move?

Robben: When I started as a youngster, I played in the center not as a winger. And then I initially played on the left wing. I first started operating down the right in my second year at Real Madrid (2007 - 2009). That continued when I joined Bayern. I feel at home in the position and I get a lot of support from world class guys like Philipp Lahm behind me and Thomas Mueller in the center. I think it' s important thing having quality players around you.

Xinhua: Playing along the wing, you don' t have too many options. Somehow you have to head towards the goal in the middle...

Robben: (laughing) Exactly, you always have the line behind you which only leaves the option to venture inwards.

Xinhua: Who was the coach that helped Arjen Robben invent the Robben?

Robben: When Juande Ramos (today coach of FC Malaga) was coach of Real, I started to play on the right wing.

Xinhua: So he is the man we have to admire?

Robben: (laughing) Maybe yes, but it often happens in football that you have to change your "normal" position and you realize, hey it works a treat. In the last three years under Pep Guardiola, I also played in the middle. If you ask me for my favorite position, my answer will be the right flank, but sometimes it is good to have a break and try something else.

Xinhua: Recently we saw a change in Bayern' s tactical approach on the pitch like two along the wings, one spearhead and one offensive player in midfield. The team was successful and you seem to be among the ones that are happy about the change?

Robben: I' m happy about it, no question. And we saw it worked well, but I' m not the coach and I don' t decide which system is the best for us. By the way, one can never say we have one system because there is never one system that' s always the best. We at Bayern have a squad with many top quality players that can play several systems. In the past, we' ve been successful whenever we were flexible tactically. It' s like playing down the flank, you have to come up with some surprises.

Xinhua: Are we right in thinking, your team and Carlo Ancelotti as new coach had to get over some teething problems. This "new" 4-2-3-1 system seems to be solving the problems.

Robben: No doubt, it worked well in the last two or three games. We scored eight goals in the last two league games. By the way, you can' t really call the system new. It' s one many teams use and we have been playing it at times under previous coaches such as Louis van Gaal, Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola and now under Carlo Ancelotti. I think it' s normal to take some time to get when a new coach takes charge.

Xinhua: You seem to be just the right person to talk about former coaches as you have been playing for Bayern since 2009.

Robben: (laughing)

Xinhua: Back in 2009, did you expect to be stay that long at Bayern Munich?

Robben: It was a hard decision for me back then as I played for Real Madrid. Bayern at the time was not on the level we are today. And, no I didn' t expect things to turn out so well. Today, I can say I' m proud to be part of the development this club has taken. It' s something very special. The fact that I' m in my eighth year at Bayern, says a lot. Before coming here, I only played two or three years for a club. It' s proof that I feel extremely happy at Bayern.

Xinhua: That sounds like a special love affair to us and we' d like to ask you about your new contract. When will you sign a new contract as your current one will end next summer?

Robben: There is nothing new to announce at the moment. I am just trying to concentrate on football, to stay fit and play well. I know footballers often sound too diplomatic for your taste when it comes to new contracts. But there is no news today.

Xinhua: We take that as a "we are talking and it does not look bad"

Robben: (laughing) Feel free to do so.

Xinhua: As you mentioned you being in your eighth year. Many regard you as irreplaceable - just like Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller. Don' t you see anybody that could replace you?

Robben: Bayern has many very talented players. Don' t forget Kingsley Coman or Douglas Costa who as well are doing great along the wing. We are pretty strong out wide.

Xinhua: But it is you that makes the difference.

Robben: That is your conclusion. For me it is not the most important thing to help to find the man coming after me. I still intend to play for some more years.

Xinhua: Some day the time will come when you are retired. Have you got any plans? As we know many in the Netherlands such as FC Groningen boss Hans Nijland hope you return to the country, maybe as a manager.

Robben: It' s my home-town club and I made my debut there in professional football. Of course I have a lot of memories in my mind regarding Groningen and I' m in close contact with them. I can' t say what will be happen after I retire.

Xinhua: Looking at Philipp Lahm, he seems to have plans to continue in football as a manager or something similar.

Robben: I' m still playing and haven' t decided what to do next. I have no definite plans. On the one hand, football has been important for me all my life, but on the other I' m looking forward to doing new things. Doing things I can' t do at the moment and spend more time with my family. I' m sure I will find something I' ll enjoy. Speaking about life as a boss in Groningen, I think it' s a lot of stress and worry.

Xinhua: One thing you as a Bayern player have to worry about is the Champions League. In the next round you will meet Arsenal. What do you have to do to be ready?

Robben: We' ll have to be prepared for the game, that' s for sure. Arsenal will be ready. They have no winter break as we do. Arsenal is in very good shape and has one of their best teams ever. Arsenal has improved a lot and we' ll have to dig deep to beat them.

Xinhua: Looking at the Bundesliga, a new rival seems to have emerged as RB Leipzig is among the league' s top teams.

Robben: They are a surprise package. Not many expected them to do so well.

Xinhua: Next week you will meet Leipzig in the Bundesliga. It' s a game every German football fan is eagerly awaiting. Will they continue their good results? Could they make it into the Champions League?

Robben: It' s hard to say as the season is very long. What we can say is, so far they are doing very well and it' s a remarkable achievement. Their top position is proof of the great work they are doing, and their coach too. A special style has developed within a short space of time.

Xinhua: And your game against Leipzig?

Robben: Our goal is to finish this year at the top of the league table and then have some days off relaxing before we prepare for the second half of the season. Endit