Ottmar Hitzfeld - Former legendary Bayern coach - Page 4 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 21-02-2007, 11:52 AM

Demichelis should have never played from the beginning. Hitzfeld should have played Salihamidzic instead. Yall saw, Salihamidzic was superb from the minute he got in the second half.. Scholl was another great substitute, and Pizarro aswell.

**Trim** · 21-02-2007, 11:52 AM

For all his years of experience, veteran coach Ottmar Hitzfeld could not prevent himself from celebrating Mark van Bommel's late strike in Bayern's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid as if it was his first outing on European football's biggest stage. The General pumped the air, raised his hands to the heavens, performed an impromptu touchline dance and unleashed a cry of triumph as an evening of fluctuating fortunes at the Stadio Santiago Bernabeu finished on a memorable note.

"It was unbelievable, a highlight," he smiled after returning to European action in the same place he had left it almost three years previously. "I thought to myself – this can't be happening, you're here at the Bernabeu. Three weeks ago, you were skiing in Engelberg, but now you're back on the European stage," the 58-year-old continued.

All smiles afterwards

At the final whistle, the big names at Real Madrid recognised the historic nature of the occasion with warm congratulations and thoroughly gentlemanly acknowledgement of one of the game's most successful coaches. Raúl, Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham all lined up to shake the Bayern boss by the hand and exchange pleasantries. "That was tremendous," Hitzfeld remarked.

The coach had no time to contemplate the significance of his return during the preceding 90 minutes, as he bobbed up and down from his seat, handing out tactical advice to his senior players. His half-time team talk, delivered with his side seemingly dead and buried at 3-1 down, "had a positive effect on the team," Oliver Kahn reported.

Enjoying his job

"At half-time, I thought to myself: 'What's going on here? They're all sitting there, thinking we're out of the Champions League. This can't be happening!" the coach revealed. "I told the team there was no reason for our heads to go down. We still have three halves to play. We needed to show more courage, make our tackles and attack our opponents earlier."

The Bavarians were a team transformed after the restart, finally claiming their reward through van Bommel on 88 minutes to set up a thrilling return at the Allianz Arena a fortnight on Wednesday. It was the kind of happy ending the General had been hoping for on his return to the continental fray. "It makes up for the stressful life I've come back to," Hitzfeld smiled, "but I'm really enjoying my work."

**Oliver_Kahn** · 26-02-2007, 10:12 PM

Since Ottmar Hitzfeld returned to Bayern three weeks ago, Messrs Demichelis, Sagnol, Van Buyten, Makaay, Salihamidzic, Görlitz, Lell, Pizarro and Podolski have all learned for better or worse about the General's predilection for squad rotation. The new boss customarily makes changes from week to week, even to a winning team - and the strategy has a record of success.

In the home meeting with Wolfsburg on Saturday, Lell and Görlitz made impressive first starts of term. "They repaid my faith," Hitzfeld commented. Pizarro, omitted from the side in Madrid, topped the stats for shots at goal and assists with six of each, while Salihamidzic and Görlitz combined dangerously down the right flank.

Several birds with one stone

On this occasion, the changes were partly due to suspensions for Sagnol and Demichelis and a lingering flu bug affecting Van Buyten, but Hitzfeld insisted he might have shuffled the pack anyway. "I've often rotated my players after Champions League matches, and it will be the same in the future," the coach explained. "I left Makaay on the bench this time, just like I did with Giovane Elber in the past. It never hurts."

The strategy fulfils a number of goals at once. Regulars can take a welcome break, while the competition for places intensifies. Players not currently rated as first-choice gain match practice, the temptation to grumble is kept to a minimum, and dressing-room morale receives a boost. "Every player will always get the chance to prove himself, so that every player feels he's part of the team," Hitzfeld continued.

Strategy applies to whole squad

In five competitive matches since Hitzfeld's return, no fewer than 18 of the 24-strong senior squad have been handed a start. If you include the two 45-minute matches at the Bulls Cup in Salzburg, only number three keeper Bernd Dreher and long-term injury victim Valerien Ismaël have yet to start a game. Only the brave or foolhardy would chance a wager on the General's starting eleven for this Saturday's trip to Berlin.

**Trim** · 27-02-2007, 07:54 AM

Yeah, and I like what he's doing.

**Trim** · 28-02-2007, 07:23 PM

Politicians are accustomed to a 100-day honeymoon after taking office, but things are different in football. Ottmar Hitzfeld returned to the Bayern helm on 1 February, and now, four weeks into his second spell in charge, the General has reviewed the situation and announced his conclusions. fcbayern.de summarises the most important statements made by the 58-year-old in an exclusive TV interview.

Ottmar Hitzfeld on...

...his first month back at Bayern:
"I'm not particularly satisfied in terms of results, as we've lost a game or two. That's not what I wanted. Obviously, I'm thoroughly enjoying my they daily work with the players. The players are full of desire and very focused. We're working hard on tactics, and it's been interesting watching us make progress. Unfortunately, we don't have the time we need, our time's running out. We've had to do a lot of improvising."

...Bayern's next three matches:
"They're damned important matches. It's a huge opportunity to make up for a lot of disappointment in the space of just a week. I've set that as our biggest priority."

...Bayern's chances of progress in the Champions League:
"We've got ourselves into an outstanding position. Two away goals are worth their weight in gold. Our prospects are good in front of our home crowd. I hope the Arena seethes and every spectator roars us on. If so, I'm certain we'll beat Real."

...Bayern's chances in the Bundesliga:
"I think this is the wrong time to start talking about the championship. We have to go out and perform first. We have to play better, and do it for 90 minutes. We have to perform like the Bayern of old."

...his new midfield supremo:
"Mark van Bommel is a very experienced player. He's vital for the team and he's a leader. I need players who are prepared to take on the fight and grit their teeth, especially when it's not going so well. He's not afraid to shake his team-mates awake either."

... Roy Makaay:
"He's done well so far this season and scored plenty of goals, but I want him to get more involved. I want him laying off balls to other players and creating space for his team-mates. I've not been as happy in that respect. He has to react out on the field, he needs more fire."

...Andreas Görlitz' comeback from injury:
"I'm delighted for him. He's made a first start after a long, long time out. There was one vital moment where he denied his opponent a certain goal just before half-time. He put in some good runs down the right and combined well with Hasan Salihamidzic. I was very pleased with that. He's a new weapon in our armoury, and we'll deploy him more often."

**Oliver_Kahn** · 01-03-2007, 02:03 PM

Glad that we have Hitzfeld, Magath is nothing compared to Ottmar.

He knows how to win major titles.

Will he stay next season ?

**Trim** · 01-03-2007, 05:52 PM

^ Chances are 50-50 I guess. I'd really love to see him stay.

**Trim** · 01-03-2007, 07:38 PM

Roy Makaay made an early start to his working day on Thursday, reporting to Ottmar Hitzfeld's office for a man-to-man talk ahead of the morning workout on the training ground. The striker declined to reveal what was discussed afterwards. "That's between the two of us," he declared, although it was not hot hard to hazard a guess at the main topic.

A day earlier, Hitzfeld publicly voiced criticism of the club's leading scorer, exclusively telling FCB.tv of his current moderate dissatisfaction with the Dutch international. Hitzfeld's dismay peaked after the goal-getter came on as a late substitute against Wolfsburg last Saturday: "He needed to show a reaction out on the field. He should have been on fire, but I didn't sense it."

Stars come in for flak

In the four weeks since the 58-year-old returned to the Bayern hot seat, he has been quick to go public with detailed criticism of below-par performances and individuals. Hitzfeld described Lucio's frequent attacking forays in the sobering 3-0 defeat against Nuremberg as unintelligent, and took Daniel van Buyten to task for tactical misjudgement. Makaay is just the latest leading dressing room figure to experience the coach's new style for himself.

Hitzfeld has generally raised the bar for the entire playing staff in recent days, handing unexpected opportunities to a string of squad players in a return to his strategy of rotation, thereby stoking the fire of competition for starting places. "We have plenty of options and alternatives. I'm only interested in picking players who are in good shape," the coach declared ahead of Saturday's trip to Berlin.

Special help for Podolski

Recent training sessions have featured a number of innovations in terms of tactics, set plays and formations, including the unexpected appearance Roque Santa Cruz as a right-sided midfielder on Thursday. The boss has also declared the Berlin fixture as an internal contest for places in the Champions League return against Madrid next Wednesday. "Anyone who does well against Hertha can qualify for Real," he declared.

If that approach represents a stick, there are carrots as well. For example, the coach has frequently called Lukas Podolski over for a few encouraging words in training as he seeks to combat the youngster's apparent lack of belief at the moment. Following the Germany international's heavily criticised display in Madrid, Hitzfeld kept the faith and opted to pick Poldi for the Wolfsburg clash, whereupon the striker scored from the spot in a dramatically improved display.

Fostering team spirit

The coach gathered the squad around him for a lengthy motivational talk ahead of training on Thursday, appealing to his players' pride and professionalism in advance of a make-or-break week featuring meetings with Berlin, Real and Bremen. "I told the team we could make a giant stride in this eight-day period and set off on the right track. It's a huge opportunity to chart a successful course and make up for a few things. We have to take this opportunity."

Makaay has clearly taken the message to heart and worked hard on impressing the boss in recent days. "He's been getting stuck in. He needs to keep showing me he's made progress and improved in training," Hitzfeld explained. "Mr Hitzfeld's strength has always been the ability to get the best from every individual," the 31-year-old striker commented a short time ago. The coach would seem to favour a mixture of the carrot and the stick in order to achieve that goal.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 04-03-2007, 01:34 PM

Hitzfeld betont erneut: Am Saisonende ist Schluss beim FC Bayern

Trotz der jüngsten Erfolge in der Fußball- Bundesliga und der Champions League hat Trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld seinen Entschluss bekräftigt, den FC Bayern München am Saisonende wieder zu verlassen. «Man sollte nie etwas ausschließen, doch mein Entschluss steht fest. Ich werde nicht weitermachen», sagte Hitzfeld in einem Interview mit der «Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung».
«Ich stehe den Bayern bis zum Ende der Saison zur Verfügung, um danach wieder für Premiere als Fußball-Experte zu arbeiten.» Am Samstag hatte Bayern-Manager Uli Hoeneß noch betont, dass der als Nachfolger für Felix Magath geholte Hitzfeld auch über die laufende Spielzeit hinaus für die Münchner als Trainer in Frage komme.

Aus der Suche nach einem Nachfolger will sich Hitzfeld zwar grundsätzlich heraushalten, doch die Verpflichtung eines ausländischen Trainers sieht er nicht als optimale Lösung an. «Ich denke, das ist hier schwierig für einen ausländischen Trainer. Die Sprache - der Trainer muss gut kommunizieren können mit den Medien und Strömungen erkennen im Umfeld eines Topclubs», sagte der 58- Jährige. Er empfiehlt den Bayern zudem, sich durch deutsche Top- Akteure zu verstärken. «Fünf bis sechs deutsche Nationalspieler sollten schon bei Bayern spielen. Derzeit sind es zu wenige.» Für die neue Spielzeit haben die Münchner in Jan Schlaudraff bislang einen deutschen Auswahlspieler verpflichtet.

Hitzfeld bedauert, dass er für seine Rettungsaktion nicht genügend Zeit habe: «Das ist hier wie bei einem Crashkurs. Mir läuft die Zeit davon. Deshalb müssen wir noch intensiver arbeiten.» Das Erreichen der Champions League hat für ihn Priorität, doch auch im Kampf um die Meisterschaft sind die Münchner seit diesem Bundesliga-Spieltag bei nur noch sechs Punkten Rückstand auf Spitzenreiter FC Schalke 04 auch wieder im Rennen. «Generell darf der FC Bayern nie abgeschrieben werden. Die Nervenstärke des FC Bayern ist da, der Mythos lebt noch.
Da haben wir noch einige Trümpfe in der Hand», glaubt der Trainer.

**Trim** · 08-03-2007, 08:26 AM

Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer and captain Oliver Kahn have spoken out in favour of Ottmar Hitzfeld staying at the club.

The 58-year-old has stressed that his return to the German champions following the departure of Felix Magath will only last to the end of the season, but Beckenbauer and Kahn hope that he can be persuaded to stay.

"It’s my wish that Ottmar Hitzfeld will stay on," Beckenbauer told Sport Bild.

"Ottmar has so much energy and passion - it would be a shame if he stopped. I’ve seen that he is having fun in the job and that's the most important thing.”

Kahn also made a public plea for Hitzfeld to stay on at the Allianz Arena, adding: "Hitzfeld is destined to be Bayern coach.

"He knows everything there is to know about football. He used his time away from the game to continue learning.

"He uses the most modern methods, is a master of psychology and knows how to handle stars.

"He is the ultimate Bayern trainer."

Last weekend's home win over Wolfsburg helped Bayern back into the Bundesliga championship race after a poor run of form. They are currently six points behind leaders Schalke with 10 games to go.

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**Trim** · 08-03-2007, 08:27 AM

Don't let us down, Ottmar.

**kennethlindheim** · 08-03-2007, 09:25 AM

Did magnificently well to turn Madrid over two legs. Bayern will go far in the CL under his guidance, won't be surprise if they actually win it.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 08-03-2007, 01:48 PM

With Hitzfeld as coach, we certainly have a great possilibity of winning both CL and Bundesliga.

I really hope that he stays, this team looks completely different to what it was a month ago.

**Trim** · 10-03-2007, 09:34 AM

After FC Bayern München booked a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with an away-goals triumph over Real Madrid CF on Wednesday, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is hoping the Ottmar Hitzfeld factor can help reignite their Bundesliga campaign – starting against Werder Bremen on Sunday.

'Tremendous job'

Hitzfeld experienced a couple of initial setbacks after replacing Felix Magath at the helm on 31 January but has overseen a recent upturn in fortunes at the Fußball Arena München. Twelve points adrift of the summit a fortnight ago, Bayern have capitalised on slips by FC Schalke 04, Bremen and VfB Stuttgart, halving the distance between themselves and top spot with back-to-back wins. The Madrid victory made it three, and Rummenigge attributes the improvement to one man, saying: "We have to be grateful to Ottmar Hitzfeld. He has done a tremendous job in the past few weeks and helped the team get back on their feet.

'Work ethic'

"You can see his work ethic, his diligence and ambition, and that has transferred to the players. It has given the team confidence, stability and security. Now we need to take one game at a time and see where we are at the end of the season." The match against a Bremen side who beat Bayern 3-1 earlier in the campaign could provide a strong indicator of where that will be. First in the table when Hitzfeld reclaimed the Bayern hot seat, Thomas Schaaf's team have taken just four points from their last five matches and sit second behind Schalke, just three points above their Munich-based rivals.

Schalke stutter

An Aaron Hunt hat-trick fired Bremen to a 3-0 success against VfL Bochum 1848 last weekend. Another victory over Bayern could restore them to pole position if Schalke fail to overcome Hannover 96. Mirko Slomka's men could certainly do with a win, their aspirations of a first German title in 49 years having been dented by consecutive home defeats by Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Hamburger SV, narrowing their advantage to a mere three points. Maybe they will be inspired by Rummenigge's post-Real Madrid assertion that "we are the only German club still in business and that's very pleasing".

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