Zvjezdan Misimovic

Zvjezdan Misimovic: I think a playmaker always has to be available to take passes. If the team is in possession of the ball, the playmaker has to help his teammates, setting up the strikers, or working in defense to close down the opposition. You never have time to rest, you always have to work for the team.

For example, if you're under pressure you can keep the ball or provoke a foul, simply to break your opponent's rhythm. There are other situations you have to read, like when you spot a gap. You have to be quick and be the one who sets the pace of your team.

Zinedine Zidane was my role model in his playing days. Watching him play was a feast for the eyes, the way he controlled the ball.

It's always hard to copy other players. You have to have your own style and play your own game and not try to replicate another player. I have a couple of DVDs of him and I watch them now and again before games, or when I feel like it. But you could never copy him and shouldn't even try.

Yes, sometimes, to see his movement. But not before every match. Maybe once a month or once every two months, depending on whether I'm in the mood.

It's loads of fun. They complement each other very well. Both Grafite and Edin Dzeko move well. They're always looking for gaps in the defence and sometimes you just have to play the ball into the space and they're right there. Edin is the more elegant of the two. He can do more on the ball and has great control over his body. And he's made huge improvements in his heading game. Grafite thrives on his athleticism. If he has space he's almost impossible to stop. Both of them know exactly where the goal is and harmonize really well.

I'm certainly not the fastest player. I'm aware of that, but I think there are other players who aren't fast and play at European level or at the highest level of the game. I think you can compensate a lot if you simply think quicker, if you react quicker. Then maybe you can make up a couple of milliseconds.

Pre-season training isn't much fun, no doubt about it. There aren't many people who really enjoy running around or carrying medicine balls. But it's part of the process. That's the way it is.

I think the coach has a big impact. He has a concept and he looks for players who fit into that concept. His track record shows he's right. Wolfsburg almost got relegated twice. He came to the club last year and took it straight into the UEFA Cup. This season we are well on our way to getting a European spot for next season as well.

Because we are physically fitter and that carries us through the whole season.

I think if everything goes as normal Bayern Munich will win it. They certainly have the best quality squad, and probably the most experienced as well. They know how to deal with these kinds of situations. Our goal wasn't to be German champions and we're still a long way from that.

The league is so even. Every team is capable of beating every other team. Stuttgart were already written off and now they're back in contention. Hoffenheim were top before the winter break, now they're eighth. Things can change very quickly, so we have no need to talk about it yet. I've always said if we're still up there shortly before the end we can aim for the title, but not before then.