Fröhliche Weihnacht überall, or Merry Christmas Everywhere - as in previous years, the Bayern stars put the ‘everywhere’ in this line from a German Christmas carol into action at this time of year. The squad features players from 11 nations, and they're celebrating Christmas with their families all over the world, from Dubai to Holland, from Lower Saxony to the Alps. fcbayern.de asked: Where are the stars spending Christmas?
Louis van Gaal: “I spent the last two Christmases in Portugal, but I didn’t have the Christmas feeling. The Christmas feeling is strong in Germany and the Netherlands, so I’m spending Christmas in Holland and not Portugal this year. I’m looking forward to seeing my children and grandchildren. Christmas is a family festival.”
Mark van Bommel: “I'm celebrating at home with my family, so we’ll be in Munich at first, then we'll be visiting friends and relatives in Holland. We usually spend the time around Christmas playing board games with the kids, or watching a DVD and going out with the dogs."
Philipp Lahm: “On Christmas eve I go skiing with my father and a few friends during the day. In the evening we always have fondue, and of course we open our presents. Christmas will be very peaceful. We, i.e. my wife and I, will be celebrating with my parents, my parents-in-law and grandma, granddad, uncle, aunt and cousins."
Bastian Schweinsteiger: “In the last few years I've always spent Christmas in a sunny place with my girlfriend. This time we're staying at home and celebrating with mine and Sara's families."
Arjen Robben: “This Christmas my family and I are going to Dubai. It's a bit warmer there and we were there last year. We're also meeting up with a few friends. Giving presents is a bit different in Holland. There's a St. Nicolas celebration on the fifth of December and presents are handed out to the kids. So there are fewer presents at Christmas."
Jörg Butt: “My family and I are going to my home town of OIdenburg. My parents, my sister, my brother, and my wife's family live there. I'm really happy that we'll be celebrating a white Christmas there for the first time in years."
Thomas Müller: “My wife and I are going on a snowy holiday for Christmas. As soon as training's over, we're off. After all, there isn't much time until the winter training camp. It all starts again on the second of January."
Thomas Kraft: “My wife and I alternate between celebrating at my home or here in Munich. This year we're staying in Munich. My mother is coming to visit us. We adults have stopped giving each other presents, but my sister has a young boy and my wife has a younger brother, and they get something, of course."
Diego Contento: “I'm spending Christmas at home with my family. We'll be having a typical Italian meal, we usually have fish. Then we open the presents."
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