In the 'Final' clash in the race for the direct qualifying place for the Champions League their will also be the meeting of the top goal scorers of the last five years.
In the 'Final' clash in the race for the direct qualifying place for the Champions League their will also be the meeting of the top goal scorers of the last five years.
In the 'Final' clash in the race for the direct qualifying place for the Champions League their will also be the meeting of the top goal scorers of the last five years. Miroslav Klose versus Ailton!!Werder.de spoke to the Brazilian striker who left Bremen for Schalke 04 before heading to Turkey's Besiktas Istanbul and then returning to the Bundesliga with HSV. "Toni" spoke to us about Klose, Hamburg and his Champions League dream.
When we look up to the big screen on Saturday afternoon at 5:20pm, what scoreline should we expect to see from the AOL-Arena and how many Ailton goals can the Werder faithful fear?
With a derby, especially a derby which so much depends on, it's imossible to speculate on the result. I always want to score goals and hope that I will on Saturday too. Most important though is to help the team. I will definately take the chances that present themselves.
Will it hurt you personally to score against Werder? In January you scored a hat-trick with Besiktas against your ex-teammates.
Even if my heart is in Bremen, it won't hurt to score against Werder. I'm a professional through and through and play for the side in the colours I am wearing. Of course I'll give my all in the game to make HSV the winner.
On Saturday there will also be a clash of the top-scorers Miroslav Klose and Ailton. How do you see the performance of Klose over the course of the season who could, with four goals, match your 28 goal record for Werder Bremen?
Miro is in my opinion absolutely the best striker in the Bundesliga. He's on a roll at the moment and his form is very impressive. Still, I don't believe he can match my goalscoring record in the final game though.
What do you most enjoy when you think back on your time at Werder Bremen?
On the 2003/2004 season. It was a perfect period crowned by winning the double. We had a super team together who were successful thanks to a great team spirit.
You are often in Bremen, when were you last in the changing rooms with your ex-teammates?
When Werder played at home against Schalke I payed my old colleagues a visit before and after the game and had a bit of a laugh with the lads.
Where there times when you regretted leaving Bremen?
Yeah, at the beginning, while I was at Schalke I really regretted leaving.
How do you like it in Hamburg?
I really it here! The city is wonderful and the people are really nice. Hamburg and Bremen are my favourite cities in Germany.
Should Hamburg SV qualify for the Champions League, how far do you think they can go?
Firstly we have to qualify, prefarable directly. As the name implies, in the Champions Leagueyou have the very best teams from all over Europe and because of that I'd rather not make a prognosis. If we are involved then we will want to play a big part.
What are your plans for the future? With HSV you could eventually get your chance to play in the Champions League.
It's not clear at the moment if I'll be staying at HSV. Having helped both Werder and Schalke to reach the Champions League, I'd now like to reap my rewards and finally play in the Champions League myself.
Ailton is often connected to 'Crazy' situations. Taxi rides to North Derby's, horse back to training. What can your fans expect from you should HSV win on Saturday?
(Laughs) That'll be a surprise!!
Johnnie Muldoon
