Melanie Leupolz ahead of UWCL clash against Real Madrid: 'Bayern can play a big role in Europe'

FC Bayern Munich. Real Madrid. Two great names, two special football cultures – and on Wednesday evening (18:45 CET), a first encounter in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Melanie Leupolz knows both clubs from personal experience. As an Olympic and European champion, she’s one of the defining figures of German women’s football. She’s also one of few players who have represented both the Reds and the Whites. Ahead of the clash in Unterhaching, the 32-year-old, an FC Bayern Women Legend since last year, dicusses the different paths of the two teams: the experience the Munich ladies have built up over the years, and the energy, courage and flair of the Madrid side. She also reveals who she’d like to see remain in a red shirt for a long time to come, which Real player Bayern need to particularly watch – and gives an insight into her new role with the DFB.

🎟️ Get your tickets for FC Bayern Women vs. Real Madrid here! You can apply for tickets for the match against Barcelona here!

Interview with Melanie Leupolz

Servus, Melly! It’s not long since you ended your playing career. How are you doing – and how does everyday life compare to your playing days?
Melanie Leupolz: “Very well. The biggest adjustment was obviously the switch from being a professional to life after: when you get up, when you train, when you play, when you recover. During my playing career, every day was thoroughly planned out. Now I can decide for myself when I meet friends or celebrate birthdays and weddings, without thinking beforehand about whether I’ve got training or a match coming up. I enjoy that very much.

“Now my second son dictates the rhythm. With a newborn you live in a kind of hamster wheel again: changing nappies, eating and drinking, sleep – all those things. It’s obviously extremely nice and I enjoy this time a lot. At the same time, it’s a completely different life – a wonderful one for me. I always wanted my children to not have too big an age gap, so I’m very happy with how it is now.”

Let’s turn to sporting matters: Bayern and Real Madrid meet in the Champions League on 28 October. You know both clubs from personal experience: what are you expecting from this match?
“It’s going to be a fascinating encounter. FC Bayern have made huge progress from my time there - especially in the last two or three years, and in European competition. The team have a lot of experience now, they’ve been playing at the highest level for many years and have the quality to play a big role in Europe. This development hasn’t happened overnight but grown over many years. When I think about where it ‘started’ and where the club is now, it’s really impressive. With Real, they’re maybe still lacking a few years’ experience. The women’s team hasn’t been around for that long, plus there was upheaval again in the summer. Real rely heavily on young, talented players. Bayern also have a lot of young and interesting players in their squad, though. It’s nice to see the quality that’s coming through at both clubs.”

So Bayern bring a lot of experience, and Real more young talents.
“Yes, and it’s that contrast that could make the game very intriguing. Bayern have gained that experience at the highest level over many years. Real possess young players who maybe don’t have the same experience, but because of that can play with a degree of easiness and flair. It’s an interesting combination: a team who have already gone through these challenges many times, up against a team who can counter that with a lot of talent, energy and courage.”

Real were your final club, so you still know the Madrid squad well from your time. What do Bayern have to be particularly wary of?
“Although I didn’t play with Felicia Schröder, I think she’s a very impressive talent. What she’s producing this season – the number of goals she’s scoring and how fast and physically strong she is – is remarkable. She offers a lot and it’s fun to watch her. I think Bayern need to keep a close eye on her. Young players can be particularly dangerous with that exuberance. She’s not constantly thinking about everything that’s at stake, but can just play bravely and freely.”

There are only a few players who have played for both clubs. Do you have a favourite?
“I had an absolutely wonderful time at both clubs and especially look forward to seeing old acquaintances on the pitch. I hope both sides go a long way in the Champions League. It was certainly a strange feeling when Bayern and Real played in pre-season at the Campus last year. Now I can really view this contest from a more neutral perspective. I have a close connection to both clubs.”

You played in Munich from 2014 to 2020, coming to FC Bayern at a young age. When you reflect on those years, what comes to mind first?
“Obviously the two Bundesliga titles and the cup final that we reached. Titles especially stay with you, but at least equally important for me are the friendships that emerged in that time and have lasted to this day. My life looked very different back then. I was studying, I drove to training and was fairly young. I lived in a shared flat with Manu Zinsberger and Sarah Däbritz. It was a lovely and special time. I gradually settled in Munich – in the beginning I was a bit shy and I had to come out of my shell. Manu and Sarah helped me a lot with that, they made my life easier. Munich was a formative place for me as a player and person, which I appreciate.”

You also played in England for Chelsea and in Spain for Real. What do you see as the biggest difference between the Spanish and the German league?
“I enjoyed playing in Spain very much. I came from England, where it’s often more physical – with a long balls and crunching tackles. In Spain, I initially had to get used to having lots of possession. My adductors struggled at the beginning – it felt like a trillion passes every day (laughs). At the same time, that kind of football gave me great pleasure. It was about short passing, keeping the ball and finding solutions together. I really enjoyed possession football. I think the league in Germany is slightly more balanced – both in terms of the level of the teams and the professionalism across the board. A lot of positive things have happened here in recent years.”

You were always a player who set the tempo in midfield and took on responsibility as a leader and captain. Is there a current Bayern player in whom you see similarities to yourself?
“That’s difficult, I don’t like to compare myself to other players. I’d describe myself as a strategist with a certain amount of physicality. Maybe the closest comparison is Sarah Zadrazil – given the position, too. Aside from that, I really like Klara Bühl and her game currently. I really enjoy watching her – similar to Felicia Schröder. You’re always expecting something to happen with Klara. I sincerely hope she stays at FC Bayern and in the German league for a long time yet.”

You’re still involved in football and are currently working for the DFB in the area of ‘Player Care & Development’. Can you tell us a bit about your role?
“I had actually planned to make the most of my maternity leave. However, while I was pregnant, I was asked if I’d like to work for the DFB in the ‘Player Care & Development’ department. I found it hard to say no, so I started off working part-time on an hourly basis. I’ve really enjoyed the work right from the start – and still do today. We support female players with issues that are important off the pitch, particularly in the areas of health and personal wellbeing. These include, for example, mental health and women’s health, as well as questions about cycle-based training or managing pregnancy in professional football.”

Your own experiences must help with that.
“I experienced a lot in my 14 years as a player – both personally and with my teams. I want to pool that knowledge and pass it on to the players. It’s not a case of immediately having a solution for every problem. Listening and guidance are the first important steps. If necessary, we bring in appropriate specialists. Currently it’s focused on senior and youth internationals. The players should be able to turn to me whenever they have questions or worries.”

What concerns do players come to you with?
“A career in professional football comes with uncertainties and questions. That’s why it’s so important to have a neutral and trustworthy point of contact. When they get in touch with me, the first priority is simply for someone to listen to them. Their concerns can vary widely – from mental and physical health, through to their personal lives, right up to career planning. I want to be someone they can talk to about anything. If specialist knowledge or further support is needed, I help them find the right place to go. I’m delighted that the service has already been so well received. It shows just how important this opportunity is – even though there is still plenty of potential in this area.”

Thanks very much for your time, Melli.