Lance Knight
10-23-2005, 12:12 PM
Interview: Roy Makaay 'Europe's top clubs will have taken note'
20.10.2005 The crowd of schoolkids enjoying a tour of the Allianz Arena could hardly believe their eyes as they entered the spacious news conference area to find Roy Makaay sitting at a side table. The Bayern star had just unveiled his new personal website before sitting down with fcbayern.de: for a brief chat.
Roy busied himself fulfilling the junior fans' requests for autographs and snapshots, all the while talking about his new web presence, the previous day's meeting with Juventus, and the goalscoring drought afflicting him since the third Bundesliga matchday.
Interview: Roy Makaay
fcbayern.de: Roy, you've just launched your new website. Why have you decided to go online?
Roy Makaay: "A few offers came my way recently, and I had a number of good ideas of my own. The concept we've ended up with convinced me at once, I had a good feeling about it. It's supposed to be a site for my fans, where they can learn more about me as a player and a person. There'll be some insights into my private life too. But I'm retaining the final say over what will be made public on my site. For example, there definitely won't be any photos of my kids."
fcbayern.de: The site offers merchandise with a specially-designed logo showing Roy Makaay in his characteristic goalscoring celebration. How did that come about?
Makaay: "It was the agency's idea. I think everyone will immediately recognise who it is. The German media christened me "Phantom" shortly after I arrived, and I think the logo does a very good job of embodying the nickname."
fcbayern.de: We've not seen your stretched-arms goal celebration for a few weeks now. Is the lack of goals making you even slightly nervous at the moment?
Makaay: "No. I was angry after the trip to Schalke because I failed to put away chances I'd normally take with my eyes closed. I can't say I did anything wrong at all against Juventus. I don't think you can do more than I did. I shot at goal from everywhere except the halfway line, and basically connected well. I thought the free-kick was going in, and I came within inches twice. If I'd been on a roll, the last close-range chance would definitely have gone in, but unfortunately, that was the one the keeper managed to save yesterday. I was still happy with my performance. I think it was my best game since the injury."
fcbayern.de: You beat Juventus in any case. What is the victory worth to the team? Is the result even more important than the three points?
Makaay: "I reckon we created more chances against Juve, the team with the best defensive line in Europe, than anyone else this season. We were so dominant I never for one moment thought we wouldn't win. Juve could have let in four or five against us. The performance will boost our confidence enormously for what lies ahead, and the other top European clubs have sat up and taken notice of what we can do."
fcbayern.de: You entertain MSV Duisburg on Saturday. How dangerous are apparent rank outsiders like the Zebras coming after a team of Juventus's calibre?
Makaay: "No-one can expect us to play the way we did yesterday all the time. It's actually a simple match for Duisburg, as no-one gives them a chance and they have nothing at all to lose. But teams with title ambitions have to be beating clubs like Duisburg at home. There's no danger we'll underestimate them. We have to apply the same kind of pressure and make sure they know we intend to take all three points."
fcbayern.de: Hopefully with a couple of Roy Makaay strikes. Good luck, and thanks for talking to us.
20.10.2005 The crowd of schoolkids enjoying a tour of the Allianz Arena could hardly believe their eyes as they entered the spacious news conference area to find Roy Makaay sitting at a side table. The Bayern star had just unveiled his new personal website before sitting down with fcbayern.de: for a brief chat.
Roy busied himself fulfilling the junior fans' requests for autographs and snapshots, all the while talking about his new web presence, the previous day's meeting with Juventus, and the goalscoring drought afflicting him since the third Bundesliga matchday.
Interview: Roy Makaay
fcbayern.de: Roy, you've just launched your new website. Why have you decided to go online?
Roy Makaay: "A few offers came my way recently, and I had a number of good ideas of my own. The concept we've ended up with convinced me at once, I had a good feeling about it. It's supposed to be a site for my fans, where they can learn more about me as a player and a person. There'll be some insights into my private life too. But I'm retaining the final say over what will be made public on my site. For example, there definitely won't be any photos of my kids."
fcbayern.de: The site offers merchandise with a specially-designed logo showing Roy Makaay in his characteristic goalscoring celebration. How did that come about?
Makaay: "It was the agency's idea. I think everyone will immediately recognise who it is. The German media christened me "Phantom" shortly after I arrived, and I think the logo does a very good job of embodying the nickname."
fcbayern.de: We've not seen your stretched-arms goal celebration for a few weeks now. Is the lack of goals making you even slightly nervous at the moment?
Makaay: "No. I was angry after the trip to Schalke because I failed to put away chances I'd normally take with my eyes closed. I can't say I did anything wrong at all against Juventus. I don't think you can do more than I did. I shot at goal from everywhere except the halfway line, and basically connected well. I thought the free-kick was going in, and I came within inches twice. If I'd been on a roll, the last close-range chance would definitely have gone in, but unfortunately, that was the one the keeper managed to save yesterday. I was still happy with my performance. I think it was my best game since the injury."
fcbayern.de: You beat Juventus in any case. What is the victory worth to the team? Is the result even more important than the three points?
Makaay: "I reckon we created more chances against Juve, the team with the best defensive line in Europe, than anyone else this season. We were so dominant I never for one moment thought we wouldn't win. Juve could have let in four or five against us. The performance will boost our confidence enormously for what lies ahead, and the other top European clubs have sat up and taken notice of what we can do."
fcbayern.de: You entertain MSV Duisburg on Saturday. How dangerous are apparent rank outsiders like the Zebras coming after a team of Juventus's calibre?
Makaay: "No-one can expect us to play the way we did yesterday all the time. It's actually a simple match for Duisburg, as no-one gives them a chance and they have nothing at all to lose. But teams with title ambitions have to be beating clubs like Duisburg at home. There's no danger we'll underestimate them. We have to apply the same kind of pressure and make sure they know we intend to take all three points."
fcbayern.de: Hopefully with a couple of Roy Makaay strikes. Good luck, and thanks for talking to us.