Mat Hummels will play his first match in his second spell at Bayern Munich on Friday against Werder Bremen.
Playing for FC Bayern Munich in a Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena is nothing new for Mats Hummels. During the 2006/07 season he featured in the squad seven times. But he only got to play once. On 19th May 2007 Hummels came on as a substitute for Martin Demichelis in the 52nd minute. He had only played 38 minutes in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich by this point.
Nine years, three months and seven days later and he has played millions of minutes in the Bundesliga. After his 38 million Euro transfer from Dortmund, Hummels will run out for Bayern Munich again on Friday evening in the match against Werder Bremen. Naturally he is a bit nervous about his comeback appearance. “I’m already a bit nervous,” he told Kicker in an interview. “That has a positive effect; it keeps you focused and sharpens the senses”
Competition in the team
Hummels is also a bit nervous to return to training. A main reason for his move was the fight for places in the team which he no longer had at Dortmund. Hummels is looking forward to the competition between teammates and he wants to prove himself. “I know that I might have to fight for my place in the team at first and that I might end up sitting on the bench,” he said. “Both of those things could happen. But I want to be under this sort of pressure because I think that it will make me a better player. Here I will have to earn my position in the team.”
Hummels arrived back in Munich seven weeks ago but in actual fact he never really left. His friends and family live here and he spent most of his free time in Munich over the last nine years. “It was so nice to feel like I had returned home,” he said. “I lived in this city for 13 years as a kid.”
Shocked about the amount of criticism
It didn’t surprise Hummels that his move from Dortmund to Bayern would upset the Dortmund fans however he was surprised by the amount of criticism. “I knew that it would cause controversy,” he said. “But I thought that more people knew about my history at Bayern Munich.”
Hummels can understand why the Borussia Dortmund fans aren’t happy, however he refuses to accept two of their accusations. He thought it was absurd that he was accused of being disloyal to the club. When you look back at his history, this accusation has no grounds. “It’s strange that I have been accused of turning my back on the club,” he said. “I’ve only played for two teams in 23 years of playing football.” Also Hummels rejects the accusation about his lack of gratitude to Borussia Dortmund. “What does gratitude mean in this context? Did I not show gratitude when I rejected all other offers in recent years and stayed at Dortmund? Does it mean I have to spend my whole career at one club?”
“There is no guarantee of trophies"
Hummels has arrived. The same goes for Bayern. Despite leaving the club eight years ago, his business was with the club was not finished. He maintained that feeling through his years with Borussia Dortmund, where they and he wrote a unique success story together. Now he wants to do something similar at Bayern in his second spell with the club. This feeling around his reunion is positive. Hummels and Bavaria are no strangers to one another. “I feel as though I have been accepted back into things very quickly. Perhaps because they believe I fit with the style of the team and can help them become better.”
The possibilities of success for Hummels and Bayern are many. Treble, double, league champions, quite which Hummels has in his sights he does not say. Instead, he warns that there is “no guarantee of trophies, not even here”. But Hummels has no plans to settle for second place at club or international level. “I want to fulfil my greatest ambitions” says a determined Hummels. Although he came through the ranks at Bayern, his likely appearance on Friday will be only his second for the club in the Bundesliga. With a little nervousness and a lot of excitement, Hummels is ready for the start of the new Bundesliga season.
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Mat Hummels will play his first match in his second spell at Bayern Munich on Friday against Werder Bremen.
Playing for FC Bayern Munich in a Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena is nothing new for Mats Hummels. During the 2006/07 season he featured in the squad seven times. But he only got to play once. On 19th May 2007 Hummels came on as a substitute for Martin Demichelis in the 52nd minute. He had only played 38 minutes in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich by this point.
Nine years, three months and seven days later and he has played millions of minutes in the Bundesliga. After his 38 million Euro transfer from Dortmund, Hummels will run out for Bayern Munich again on Friday evening in the match against Werder Bremen. Naturally he is a bit nervous about his comeback appearance. “I’m already a bit nervous,” he told Kicker in an interview. “That has a positive effect; it keeps you focused and sharpens the senses”
Competition in the team
Hummels is also a bit nervous to return to training. A main reason for his move was the fight for places in the team which he no longer had at Dortmund. Hummels is looking forward to the competition between teammates and he wants to prove himself. “I know that I might have to fight for my place in the team at first and that I might end up sitting on the bench,” he said. “Both of those things could happen. But I want to be under this sort of pressure because I think that it will make me a better player. Here I will have to earn my position in the team.”
Hummels arrived back in Munich seven weeks ago but in actual fact he never really left. His friends and family live here and he spent most of his free time in Munich over the last nine years. “It was so nice to feel like I had returned home,” he said. “I lived in this city for 13 years as a kid.”
Shocked about the amount of criticism
It didn’t surprise Hummels that his move from Dortmund to Bayern would upset the Dortmund fans however he was surprised by the amount of criticism. “I knew that it would cause controversy,” he said. “But I thought that more people knew about my history at Bayern Munich.”
Hummels can understand why the Borussia Dortmund fans aren’t happy, however he refuses to accept two of their accusations. He thought it was absurd that he was accused of being disloyal to the club. When you look back at his history, this accusation has no grounds. “It’s strange that I have been accused of turning my back on the club,” he said. “I’ve only played for two teams in 23 years of playing football.” Also Hummels rejects the accusation about his lack of gratitude to Borussia Dortmund. “What does gratitude mean in this context? Did I not show gratitude when I rejected all other offers in recent years and stayed at Dortmund? Does it mean I have to spend my whole career at one club?”
“There is no guarantee of trophies"
Hummels has arrived. The same goes for Bayern. Despite leaving the club eight years ago, his business was with the club was not finished. He maintained that feeling through his years with Borussia Dortmund, where they and he wrote a unique success story together. Now he wants to do something similar at Bayern in his second spell with the club. This feeling around his reunion is positive. Hummels and Bavaria are no strangers to one another. “I feel as though I have been accepted back into things very quickly. Perhaps because they believe I fit with the style of the team and can help them become better.”
The possibilities of success for Hummels and Bayern are many. Treble, double, league champions, quite which Hummels has in his sights he does not say. Instead, he warns that there is “no guarantee of trophies, not even here”. But Hummels has no plans to settle for second place at club or international level. “I want to fulfil my greatest ambitions” says a determined Hummels. Although he came through the ranks at Bayern, his likely appearance on Friday will be only his second for the club in the Bundesliga. With a little nervousness and a lot of excitement, Hummels is ready for the start of the new Bundesliga season.
