Mats Hummels: "It will be a gripping game"

Mats, you have returned to your old home. Surely it didn’t take you too long to settle in?

Mats Hummels: It all went smoothly because I’m in a familiar place and I know a lot of people here. I already knew a lot of the players from the national team. I knew Lewandowski from our time together at Dortmund and Franck Ribéry from my early days as a professional footballer. I already knew a lot of the employees at Säbener Street to. I am back where I started playing football.

What do you think of recent reports that say you have already had a few setbacks this season? Even though you have won eleven matches, drawn two and only lost one…

Hummels: A lot is expected of you here at FC Bayern, all of the players know that. But the club has worked hard over recent years to have these high expectations. I think we are on track and we should be pleased with our start to the season.

What goals for the season do you have as a team? Winning the league, the double, even the triple?

Hummels: Of course we would like to win the triple, but everyone knows how difficult it is to go far in the Champions League and even win the final. There are so many top quality teams in the Champions League. But of course we want to win as many titles as we can.

Although you’re new to the team, you believe that you are already one of the leaders in this team. How has that come about so quickly?

Hummels: I think that my style of play means I can take on a leading roll, because I am somebody who is brave and will step up in difficult situations. But now it’s really important that I don’t also become the spokesman for the dressing room since it would be difficult to do that alongside Thomas Müller (laughs).

Hoffenheim are in third place. What have you made of TSG so far this year, and did you expect to be having a top-of-the-table clash with Hoffenheim by matchday 10?

Hummels: I follow all of the Bundesliga very closely, so of course I look at Hoffenheim a lot. I’ve got some of their players in my fantasy team this year so on that front I’m really glad they are doing well. Hoffenheim are a good team with a lot of individual quality and as far as I can see, they’ve got a good coach as well.

Would you be willing to share why you chose those players and who they are?

Hummels: No, I’m keeping that a secret, otherwise the guys might be more motivated for Saturday than they already are (laughs).

What are you expecting from the game?

Hummels: We are at home and are the favourites but it will be a tight match. Our aim is to create some distance in the table between us and our closest challengers.

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