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05/10/2001 (www.fcbayern.de)
Exclusive interview with Claudio Pizarro
'I know my strength'
With so many players on international duty, the turnout for training at Bayern Munich has been meagre this week. Armed with the Peruvian football federation's permission to continue his acclimatisation in Munich, Claudio Pizarro is one of the few players to remain. In an exclusive interview with the Bayern Munich Online Team, 23-year-old Pizarro talks about his first three months at the club, the competition for places and the upcoming derby against 1860 Munich.
Claudio, you've been in Munich for about three months now. How are things progressing?
Claudio Pizarro: Things are going well. The transfer to Bayern Munich was definitely the right move for me. I feel as though I'm settling in quickly here - things seem to get better every day.
Your only problem at the moment seems to be scoring goals.
Pizarro: That's true, it's not yet happening in that department. But I'm working hard in training. I focus on improving my concentration and becoming more clinical in front of goal.
Last year you scored 16 goals in the second half of the season. Do you think you'll be able to repeat that this year?
Pizarro: No, that will be very difficult, but I hope I'll start finding the net again very soon. I had a bad run in the first half of last season - I scored only three times. The breakthrough came after the winter break. It suddenly seemed as though every shot was going in. That's the kind of form I want to rediscover as soon as possible.
That might not be easy when you consider the competition for places up front.
Pizarro: That's true ... but that's the way things are at Bayern Munich. All our strikers are great players - nearly all of them internationals. But I know my strengths and have confidence in my own ability. I train hard every day, as I said, and I want to play as often as possible. The fact that we have such a full schedule in the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB Cup means that everyone in the squad will get an opportunity to perform.
Roque Santa Cruz was already a Bayern Munich player when you joined the club. Did this make things easier for you?
Pizarro: Oh, yes, much easier - we both speak Spanish as a first language, after all. I hardly knew him before I came to Munich, but now we've become good friends.
The Copa America became a bit of a thorn in your side during the summer. The threat of terrorist activity forced the organisers to suspend the tournament - only for it to be staged after all. You elected not to play in the tournament. How do you see the situation now?
Pizarro: That wasn't easy for me. I had just arrived in Munich and wanted to commit myself to the club. At the same time, I was being asked to travel to Colombia to play in the Copa America. It was a no-win situation and I didn't know what to do. In the end, I was given permission to stay in Munich and prepare for the new Bundesliga season. Looking back, that was the right thing to do - but at the time it was a very unpleasant situation.
Do you see it as an advantage that you weren't asked to travel to Venezuela with the Peru squad?
Pizarro: Yes, definitely. The Peru coach purposely didn't select me so that I can rest and continue to become acquainted with my new environment. Now I have the opportunity to focus on team training and work on my weaknesses. That wouldn't have been possible, of course, if I'd been on international duty, so I can't complain.
After the Venezuela game, Peru have two more World Cup qualifiers at the beginning of November against Argentina and Bolivia. Do you intend to be available for selection for those games?
Pizarro: I don't know yet. We no longer have any chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals next year, but my final decision depends on whether the Peruvian football federation wants me to play or not. If it does, then I will play.
Bayern face an away match against Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. How do you rate your chances?
Pizarro: I think we will do well. The team is in great form and we're improving with every game - both in the Champions League and the Bundesliga. I hope that we can continue this run in Rotterdam - and I hope, of course, that I will feature in the starting line-up.
Bayern play 1860 Munich only three days later. It will be your first Munich Derby.
Pizarro: Yes, I'm really looking forward to the 1860 game. We're the favourites on paper, but that won't mean much on the day. Everyone knows that anything can happen in a Munich Derby. Sometimes the underdogs rise to the occasion and cause an upset. We want three points from the game, of course, but it won't be easy. Let's hope that it's a great game.
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� 2001 - 2002 Ririn Utami
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