Bayern Munich: declaration of war by Bayern defense chief Lucas Hernández Sports
With a transfer fee of 80 million euros, Lucas Hernández is the most expensive Bundesliga player of all time. Bayern’s defense chief about the burden of money, his absent father and a flaw in winning the Champions League.
BILD am SONNTAG: Everyone is currently talking about the Bayern offensive. Your club has only conceded one goal so far. Bayern hold the record of just 17 goals conceded from the 2015/16 season. Can you beat that?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “The season started very well. Our team is very stable. And of course we’re trying again this year to concede as few goals as we can. If we then also break the record, that would be great. However, that is not the most important thing – the titles with the team count.”
BILD am SONNTAG: With Matthijs de Ligt, Dayot Upamecano and you, Bayern has invested around 200 million euros in central defence.
Lucas Hernandez (26): “It is now up to us to thank those responsible for the trust they had in signing us. There aren’t many teams in Europe that have players as good as we do.”
BILD am SONNTAG: You and Upamecano seem to complement each other better this season than before. Why is that?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “It’s not easy to harmonize perfectly on the pitch right from the start, it’s complicated. But we also played a few games well together last season. Dayot and I are more routine this season and just know each other better.”
BILD am SONNTAG: A commander has been missing since David Alaba left. can you be
Lucas Hernandez (26): “I like to take responsibility. At a club as big as Bayern, it’s not easy at first. I feel very comfortable here, I’m getting more and more confident and I try to help my teammates on the pitch.”
BILD am SONNTAG: Does new signing Matthijs de Ligt give you the pressure you lacked last season?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “It’s great that Matthijs is here. I think that we have a strong competition in all parts of the team. It’s very good for the team. For us it means that we can never rest – you can end up on the bench at any time. So we have to give everything in every training session.”
BILD am SONNTAG: You came from Atlético Madrid for 80 million. Bayern will pay up to 77 million euros for De Ligt. Can you understand how heavy this fee is for the light?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “De Ligt may be young, but he is very mature for his age. He knows his role very well. Even his move from Ajax to Juve was a very big step and you can see that he coped well with it. I think it’s similar after he joined us from Juve. For a big player like him, the task at FC Bayern will not be a problem.”
BILD am SONNTAG: You are now in your fourth year of contract. Would you say you’ve already paid a large part of the transfer fee?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “I just want to give back everything FC Bayern has given me on the pitch. And I’ve done that from the start. I’m very happy to be here and that the people here are happy with me.”
BILD am SONNTAG: You were often injured after your move. Have you ever thought about saying goodbye during this time?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “It was a difficult situation. When you’re injured, separated from the team and have to make calls all by yourself, it’s not easy. In my head, however, I have always remained optimistic. I always knew I would come back – and stronger than before.”
BILD am SONNTAG: Your ex-coach Diego Simeone once said that your departure from Atlético was more painful than that of Antoine Griezmann.
Lucas Hernandez (26): “Of course it’s flattering when a coach says something like that. I appreciate Simeone very much. He gave me the chance to play my first games in Spain. I find him to be an outstanding coach.”
BILD am SONNTAG: You often sat outside when you won the Champions League in 2020. How important would it be to you to win the premier class as a regular player?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “We want to win everything every season, including the Champions League again, of course. And then I like being a regular player. I’m happy to have won the Champions League, but there is this little personal flaw, not having played in the final, for example. That’s why I not only want to reach this final again, but also win it!”
BILD am SONNTAG: With Jamal Musiala, a young player at FC Bayern is currently experiencing a huge hype. You need to know: what makes it so difficult for defenders to defend against Musiala?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “In fact, it is difficult to defend him. He is very slim, very agile and makes these rapid movements with great ease. He’s a very young player, but he’s already very good. Especially in the last games he showed his quality. He will bring us a lot of joy and great moments.”
BILD am SONNTAG: Your father left your family when you were about ten years old. Has the lack of a father figure shaped you? And will you seek contact with your father again?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “No, we’re not in contact and I don’t think I’ll be in contact with him again. It’s true that it’s hard when you’re so young, but in the end it gave me the strength to get where I wanted to be. It wasn’t easy, but my brother (Theo plays for AC Milan; ed.) and I always knew what we wanted.”
BILD am SONNTAG: You have tattoos of Julius Caesar and the ancient Greek hero Achilles on your arm. Have you chosen to be your own father?
Lucas Hernandez (26): “I’m a great fighter, always have been. for Julius Caesar and Achilles. These are the people I admire, with whom I identify. But I don’t want more tattoos because I’ve had enough now. If only to calm my mother down. (laughs)”