Lothar Matthäus

Lothar, Who will win the Bundesliga title?

Lothar Matthäus

At the moment it looks like Schalke.

Do Bayern still have a chance? You promised that they would win the title.

Lothar Matthäus

That was four weeks ago before they lost a lot of points. I think Bayern Munich will see this realistically. Their aim at the moment is a Champions League spot.

You mentioned yourself as a successor to Ottmar Hitzfeld at Bayern. You said at least that you thought were up to the job.

Lothar Matthäus

It's all a bit of a game. I never said I wanted the job. I have a job to do at Red Bull Salzburg that I enjoy very much.

Well how did the story come about then?´

Lothar Matthäus

Only Ottmar Hitrzfeld mentioned my name. And I think if you get the opportunity to work as coach at Bayern Munich and you get asked then you have to at least listen to what they have to say.

Isn't that just in your dreams. You're 45. Very young for a coach.

Lothar Matthäus

No, I don't dream.

You played in five world cups. That's amazing. Is there any other player that played in five world cups?

Lothar Matthäus

I think there was a keeper from Mexico that played in five world cups in the 50's and early 60's. I'm pretty proud of that. But that's in the past. I'm looking to the future. My goal is to be as successful as a coach as I was as a player.

You won the league in Serbia and Montenegro with Partizan Belgrade. That's not a bad start.

Lothar Matthäus

Yes of course it's a title. But winning the Bundesliga or the Serie A is a different ball game to winning the title in Serbia.

First Partizan Belgrade, then coach of the Hungarian national side and then there were six weeks in Brazil that we won't go in to.

Lothar Matthäus

Even if people laugh about it, it was an important experience. I would have liked to stay longer. The club was well organised and I was the first European coach in Brazil and in ten games we won 8 and drew two. It was a successful run.

Why didn't you stay longer?

Lothar Matthäus

There were problems that I didn't foresee when I signed the contract. It looked easier at the start. But when you're so far away from Europe and you're roots are here then it's very difficult. I missed Europe a lot so we parted ways amicably. It was worth a try but I just couldn't keep going.

You said recently that you have calmed down. The Spiegel news magazine once called you a blabbermouth. But you say you have calmed down a bit.

Lothar Matthäus

That's a long time ago. There were all sorts of headlines. Journalists talk to you, you talk to them and if you tell them anything you're a blabbermouth. But if you don't say anything they can't do their job. Many journalists abused my good nature to get a big headline.

You were head coach three times and now you are an assistant to a man who was also you're coach when you were a player, Giovanni Trapatoni. Is that a step back for you?

Lothar Matthäus

I'm not a typical assistant coach because I work on the training myself. He knows how I think about football. He also knows that I know more about German and Austrian football than he does. I know the menatility because I played for 20 years. I know the players. I also understand the last ten percent of the language better than he does and we work well together. We have a successful partnership.

Mr Mateschitz, the owner of Red Bull invested 20 million Euros in the club after taking it over in 2005. It has somewhat of an Abramovich feeling like Chelsea even if it is a much smaller dimension. People trying to win the league by investing heavily.

Lothar Matthäus

For him it's a great deal because he can advertise his products. And 20 million is nothing when you look at the internation level.

Back to the Bundesliga. At the beginning of the 2006/2007 season 90 million was spent on new players. Chelsea alone spent 145 million, just in this season. Do you think there is a growing gap between the Bundesliga and other leagues.

Lothar Matthäus

Definitely. There is better marketing. Abramovich is an exception. Other clubs can't compete with that.

The Premiership has three times as much money as the Bundesliga.

Lothar Matthäus

Yes they have more money. The TV rights are worth more. There is also more sponsorship money. And of course on an international level the Bundesliga is well behind.

Back to you. Do you have a club that you feel passionate about, or is that Bayern Munich.

Lothar Matthäus

The most important thing is that everything works well and that you have the same aims.

I understand that you have to say that. But don't you have a dream. You must dream.

Lothar Matthäus

Of course you dream but sometimes dreams can't be realised.

Would Germany's second division be ok?.

Lothar Matthäus

Why not?

Last question. Can Bayern Munich still win the title?

Lothar Matthäus

At this time I think, as I've said before, that Bayern will not win the league this year, although I'd like them to.

Thank you very much.

Lothar Matthäus

My pleasure.