Wagner: “We have by far the best team in Germany”

Going into the international break FC Bayern Munich finds itself in fifth place, seven points behind Borussia Dortmund. In a bit of a slump, Die Roten have only collected eight points from the last 21 possible, yet Sandro Wagner is still confident that they will defend the Bundesliga title. He addressed the Rekordmeister’s table position and James Rodriguez’ injury while at a promotional event Wednesday as captured by Bundesliga.com.

The 30-year old striker had a lot to say about the season and what needs to happen. In his mind “Bayern have to be champions.” He went on to say, “I want to win the the title and I think my teammates do too. Nobody is saying ‘it’s no big deal if we don’t win the Bundesliga this season’. Everyone wants to win it.”

Wagner is also not buying into the rest of Germany’s opinion that Dortmund is an uber-team. He is confident that Bayern will have a say in the title race, in spite being seven points behind. Said Wagner, “We’re seven points behind – or four actually, because we have to beat Dortmund at the Allianz Arena in the second half of the season.” He admits that Dortmund has had some good wins, but he still believes that Bayern is “by far the best team in Germany.”

Wagner had some advice for how he and his team-mates should finish the season.

Everyone needs to put their own personal interests to one side […] There are several things we need to work on but I’m a player and I try to do what the coach asks us to do. We all need to do that. And everyone needs to make sure they’re performing as they can do. [...] So the aim of each and every one of us has to be to win the Bundesliga. It’s not a year of transition or upheaval: that’s all rubbish. We have to win the title.

Speaking of teammates, Wagner also talked about the current hot-topic: James Rodriguez.

He’s an important player and, in my eyes, the best. He’s a creative head. We don’t have these qualities twice on the team. And we don’t have another such player in the Bundesliga at all.

James will be out for the coming weeks. Apparently, Wagner believes that James’ role will be key as Bayern look to chase down Dortmund.