02/02/2001 (www.fcbayern.de)
Santa Cruz: 'I want to show that I can be important'
Roque, how is your injury? Are you ready to make an appearance again against Wolfsburg?
Roque Santa Cruz: No, I still can't play again this week. I did a test on Wednesday to see if my achilles tendon was better or not, but unfortunately, a muscles is causing problems now. I still have to rest for another week, but it's nothing serious.
Things haven't been going so well for you in this season so far. How do you see this?
Roque Santa Cruz: I was very satisfied with my first year here. The beginning of the second here was not as good as the first, but it was simply a different situation. We lost a few games that we didn't lose in the first year. So it was actually a bit difficult for the whole team. We were only on third place on the table and had to win every game. The coach couldn't afford to make changes too often. The team had to play well. Therefore I didn't play as many games in this season as I did in the last season.
Could you understand this?
Roque Santa Cruz: It was a little difficult, every player would like to play, but the coach couldn't make changes as often as he did in the previous season. This didn't only affect me. One has to understand this, make a big effort in training and wait for his chance.
Speaking of which, it's very unlucky that you're injured now. In the last game before the winter break against Berlin, you used your chance.
Roque Santa Cruz: Well, the injury is there now, and I can't change that. I just have to make sure that I get back into the team as quickly as possible.
What is your goal for the second half of the season?
Roque Santa Cruz: To play as many games as possible and to show the team, that I can be important for them.
Change of subject. What are the chances like, that you will be travelling to the World Cup next year with Paraguay?
Roque Santa Cruz: Very good. We're third, the first four qualify. We only have to get a few more points.
What are the differences between the national team and Bayern?
Roque Santa Cruz: In Paraguay, one expects very, very much from me, sometimes a bit too much. Everyone always says: "Hey, there comes Roque, he plays at Bayern. He does it well." Here in Munich, I'm a younger player amongst many stars.
Do you miss your family? Do you ever get homesick?
Roque Santa Cruz: It is difficult. I do fly to Paraguay quite often for qualification games though. But then I'm only with the family for one or two days. And then I have to leave again.
Who do you spend time with here?
Roque Santa Cruz: Mainly with players from the amateur team: Owen Hargreaves and Antonio di Salvo for example.
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