Bayern president Herbert Hainer attended an event on Tuesday afternoon about more respect for emergency services. In the end, unsurprisingly, it was also about Thomas Müller.
Munich – Eventbox 3 was packed on Tuesday afternoon at the Allianz Arena. But the thing that originated in the presence of Herbert Hainer is also very good.
Under the name "Not all heroes wear jerseys. Sport says thank you!", a major social media and poster campaign was launched at the instigation of Bavaria's Minister of the Interior and Sport, Joachim Herrmann, calling for more respect for emergency services. The core of the campaign are video clips, which are to be distributed in particular via social media, but also at home games of Bavarian professional football teams.
On the sidelines of the event, President Hainer (68) spoke about the role of FC Bayern – and various other topics relating to his club.
Mr. Hainer, how important is it that volunteering and sport work together?
Without volunteering, sport would not exist in this form at all. Even we, as a top-class sport, are dependent on volunteers every weekend. We immediately pledged our support for the campaign because volunteering is the glue in our society. There are over 31 million volunteers in different facets, we are glad that they provide services every day. I come from a village club – and without volunteering, like dozens of others, it would probably never have existed.
How can FC Bayern help in concrete terms?
We have the heroes in the jerseys who get attention, respect and applause. But in order for these eleven players to be able to play, so much has to happen around the game by the rescue workers, who are not in the foreground. They should deserve just as much respect, just as much recognition. The police, the fire brigade, the medical service – and everyone else. To draw attention to this, we want to use our charisma.
FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer on Leipzig game: "It's certainly going to be a tough one"
Is it planned that a professional from the men's department will also support the campaign?
We deliberately chose Sarah Zadrazil as our first ambassador to show that the women's team is also committed to this. However, if the campaign of the Ministry of the Interior requires it, we will be happy to continue to get involved. Of course, also with a player from the men's team.
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My Area
Even at the weekend, when FC Bayern hosts Leipzig, the security forces are on standby. What is your gut feeling in the championship race?
I'm always an optimist. And you can also see that the team is improving from game to game. It was very, very nice against Schalke. Not only because we scored six goals, but also because there was Zug in the team. That's exactly the momentum we need for Leipzig. Because that will certainly be a tough nut to crack. We have it, thank God, in our own hands. We have to win the games – then we'll be German champions. And that's going to happen at the end of the day.
Herbert Hainer (right) and ambassador and Bayern player Sarah Zadrazil. © Sebastian Widmann/Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Integration
Herbert Hainer wants to stand "with both teams" on the balcony of the town hall
How decisive is the title for everything that will be decided in the Supervisory Board's decision on May 30?
We do make a distinction between what we do in terms of sport and what we have to do in terms of business management and personnel policy. But of course it's good for the club as a whole. The whole nation was hoping for an exciting Bundesliga. Now we have one – but at the end of the day we want to win the eleventh title.
The women can fix the title earlier. What kind of picture would it be if in the end only the women's team was standing on the balcony?
Then I would grant it to women with all my heart. But of course it would be even nicer if we were up there with both teams.
Herbert Hainer gives an outlook on Müller's future: "You can be sure of that"
Do you currently feel a positive mood again?
There is nothing more beautiful in sport than success. And when you go back from Mainz after a 1-3 defeat, it's less nice than in the last three weeks, where we win the games. And where you can see that the team is implementing what the coach gives them bit by bit. It's getting better from Saturday to Saturday, which makes us confident.
Her statement "Thomas Müller is indispensable" made big waves at the weekend. Was that a message to Thomas Tuchel?
I am far from interfering with Thomas Tuchel's competences. There is no one other than the coach who is responsible for the lineup. What I meant by that is that Thomas Müller is not just a footballer, he is a Munich through and through, his whole career at FC Bayern, he embodies the Bavarian mentality, the Mia san Mia, an incredible motivator on the field.
So he will continue to play for FC Bayern next season?
You can be sure of that.
Recorded: Hanna Raif