Winning goalscorer Boateng: "I enjoyed that"

It may have been his first goal in the Champions League but no one could dispute its importance. World Cup winner Jerome Boateng fired the German champions ahead against their English counterparts Manchester City in the 90th minute with a fine volley, allowing Bayern Munich to open their new European account with a home win. After a successful evening, the 26-year-old defender discussed his goal, Bayern’s perfect start and the situation in Group E.

Question: Mr Boateng, today’s drug test took about as long as your goal, didn’t it?

Jérome Boateng: I’m not finished yet.

Question: Sorry?

Boateng: Yeah, when we’re finished here I’ve got to go back and try again.

Question: Did you believe Bayern would win during the game?

Boateng: You’ve always got to keep believing until the end, and this time things worked out at the last minute. I think we earned it, even though it was certainly a tough match against Manchester City. They’re a strong side with world-class players.

Question: What do you remember about the goal?

Boateng: The ball came high into the penalty area; I dropped off a little and hoped it would come to me. I then had a bit of luck, met it well and the shot was slightly deflected too. I’m just happy it went in.

Question: What does that goal mean to you?

Boateng: For a start, it means we won. I’m pleased for the team and happy to have been able to help. I wanted to win no matter what – we all did, and you could see that across the team. We didn’t give up. It was important to make a good start. Of course, the goal is something special because it’s my first Champions League goal and I scored it against Manchester City (Boateng’s former club – editor’s note). I enjoyed it, but now I’m thinking about Hamburg already (Saturday’s Bundesliga match – editor’s note).

Question: You celebrated exuberantly with coach Pep Guardiola after scoring your goal. What did he shout at you?

Boateng: I didn’t hear it all; many of the team were shouting, including me. I was just happy for the coach too. As you can tell, he lives every match with us from the touchline. We all earned that win.

Question: Roma beat CSKA Moscow 5-1 while your team defeated Man City 1-0. Does that make you the two favourites for the last 16?

Boateng: We’ll see about that. It was only the first match, and we want to win more games in the Champions League so that we can qualify for the last 16 as quickly as possible. But we’ve got another Bundesliga match on Saturday to think about first.

Question: How difficult is it to adjust to the prospect of playing Hamburg, who recently named Josef ‘Joe’ Zinnbauer as their new coach?

Boateng: Changing coaches is always risky for a team, but we want to go there and continue where we left off against Stuttgart (who Bayern beat 2-0 in their last Bundesliga match – editor’s note).

Question: In the match against Stuttgart, your defensive colleague Holger Badstuber picked up another serious injury. How much has that affected you?

Boateng: Of course, it’s such a shame for Holger, especially as he’d been in such good form since his last layoff. We hope he’ll be back with us really soon. It’s clear what a great player he is. We’re looking forward to his return and seeing him back in form again.

Question: How well are you working together with your new defensive partner Mehdi Benatia?

Boateng: He’s done a great job. It’s always difficult for a new player to compete in the Champions League against Manchester City, but to start with a win and a clean sheet – it couldn’t have been any better.

Question: Those are the words your executive board chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also chose to sum up your performance.

Boateng: I feel good and I’m still working with our fitness coaches and physios to make sure I keep improving.

As told to DFB.de