Philipp Lahm

DW-TV:

How are you and how's the foot?

Philipp Lahm:

Fine thanks. As you can see I'm in plaster and I'm on crutches, so things could be better.

We're here at the Philipp Lahm Foundation. What does it do?

These are the offices of the Philipp Lahm Foundation. This is where everything is managed. The Philipp Lahm Foundation supports children and young people in sport. Our focus is on football of course, but we also provide healthcare, and education and training support.

One of your projects is called "Shoes for Bokoji." Tell us about it.

Bokoji is a town in Ethiopia. The country is famous for its outstanding runners, marathon and long-distance runners like Haile Gebreselassie. The idea originally came from Deutsche Welle, who made a documentary film about Bokoji and about its runners. They approached the foundation and asked if we would provide running shoes and sports clothing for the people there. And we said we would love to give our support.

Silly question perhaps, but why does a German footballer want to get involved with the problems in Africa?

It's something close to my heart. When I was growing up I was very fortunate. I always had the support I needed and I always got what I needed. I went to South Africa last year and I saw how the people there live, and the conditions for the children and young people who grow up without a family. I played football with the kids there and they were really good. But there's no infrastructure for them to develop their talent. So I decided to set up a charity to help support the people of Africa.

Philipp's club, Bayern Munich has seen major changes since Jürgen Klinsmann took charge as coach. But after a jittery start to the season, the defending champs are back to their winning ways.

There have been a lot of changes at Bayern, not just the new training centre but the new coaching team and the new philosophy. It seems logical to me that it takes time. But I'm sure that it'll pay off this season and we'll definitely win the title at the end.

How is it to be coached by Jürgen Klinsmann as opposed to Ottmar Hitzfeld?

Coaches are different and they each have different ways of training the team. Jürgen Klinsmann's training methods are a bit more modern and we have a fitness coach now. We became familiar with his style when he coached Germany. He's now transferred that to Bayern. I have no problems with it at all and I'm very satisfied with his training.

One of Jürgen Klinsmann's key aims is to make every single player better. Have you noticed that yourself? Have you got better?

Yes, I think I've had a very good season with Bayern up until now. It's not about what happens in the first few weeks but what happens in the next few months and years. That's Jürgen Klinsmann's perspective. He wants to improve the team and every individual player. His goal is to make us a serious contender for European titles again.

Things are going quite well in the Champions League. What do you think of Bayern's chances?

At the moment it's looking good. We've got seven points from three games and we're top of our group. So we're on course for the last 16. We'll have to see how far we can get after that. I think that to win the Champions League you have to play in it for a number of seasons. You have to get through to the quarterfinal, the semifinal and then maybe the final. I think it'll take us a couple of years until we're capable of competing for the title.

Philipp Lahm might have sealed his place in the German national side, but some of the veterans in the team now have up-and-coming players snapping at their heels. A generational change is in full swing.

It seems like there's competition for every position in the Germany team. But you're always on the teamsheet. How do you see the situation?

It's always good to have a squad of 20 or 22 players who always deliver the goods. That's how it is for us with the national team right now. Everyone's fighting for a place, everyone's giving it their all. We live in a society where performance matters and that's more important than the player's age.

You don't think there are too many new faces?

Many of them came with us to the European Championship. Not all of them played, but they were there with us. They know the philosophy of the national team and they're now competing for places. Take Piotr Trochowski. He's broken into the team and put in some strong performances. He's done the same for his club, Hamburg, this season. So obviously he should be given the chance to play for Germany. It's only fair.

The next World Cup takes place in 2010 in South Africa. There are many problems there, for example with the electricity supply. The stadiums aren't finished and there's a high crime rate. Do you think the African continent is ready to host the World Cup?

I was in South Africa last year and I'm convinced that everything will be ready and we'll have a great football festival and a wonderful World Cup. Everyone I met was totally focused on the 2010 World Cup, so there's absolutely no doubt in my mind.

So you won't be starting an aid project for football there?

That depends what you mean by aid project. We already have a project on the horizon though the foundation to build a soccer pitch near Johannesburg. So there's always a way of helping, even when it comes to football. The people there don't have the same level of support to develop their talent as here in Europe or Germany. And that's an issue that the foundation is looking to address.

Ok, that was it.

Perfect

Many thanks and a speedy recovery. Hopefully we'll see you again soon on the pitch.

Thanks. Yes, I'll make it back sometime soon.

Are you off for treatment now?

Yes, I'm off for some treatment.