Thirty-four year-old Brazilian Zé Roberto has undoubtedly been one of Bayern's most consistent performers this season. Furthermore, in what has been billed as his final season in Germany, the left-sided player has revealed hitherto unsuspected qualities as a goalscorer: Ze already has two goals apiece in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. In Saturday's 4-2 win over Wolfsburg, he shone as a makeshift left-back after half-time, crowning an excellent cameo with no fewer than two assists. fcbayern.de spoke to the player afterwards.
Interview: Zé Roberto
fcbayern.de: Zé, that was your first game at left-back for Bayern, yet you gave a superb display. Was it really no problem to adapt?
Zé Roberto: "I really don't have a problem playing there. I actually did turn out at left-back a couple of times in pre-season. At half-time today, the coach told me I was needed there. I told him it was no problem. I'll play wherever it best helps the team.“
fcbayern.de: Jürgen Klinsmann’s half-time switches, which sent you to left-back, Christian Lell over to the right and Tim Borowski as the new man in midfield, set the team on course for victory, don’t you think?
Zé Roberto: "Wolfsburg were very good in the first half. Maybe they were overconfident after that, and thought they simply had to close it out at the back. But they clearly didn't bank on our new formation, we took them completely by surprise, although we were a lot better in the second half in every respect. The coach told us we had to show some character and put them under far more pressure. It worked out really well, and we've taken three absolutely vital points.“
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