AZ: Which Bundesliga team is still undefeated in competitive matches?
JANN-FIETE ARP: I think it probably has something to do with us (laughs). We won the 2021 DFB Cup after extra time. As far as I know, that is considered undefeated.
Arp on the duel with FC Bayern: “We are not really scared”
Right. It was also the only competitive game between the two teams. What gives you hope for a similar result on Saturday night?
Our situation before the game could be better in terms of the table. Nevertheless, Holstein Kiel can look forward to the game against FC Bayern. If we leave the stadium with a defeat, no one will say it is surprising. Because before the season, no one said that we wanted to get six points against Bayern. Therefore, the distribution of roles in the Bundesliga is clearer than ever. But that is why we have no choice but to win. And as Holstein Kiel, we certainly have a very good team.
What teams should FC Bayern prepare for?
We are not really afraid. But I don’t know if we will be as aggressive as we usually are. Nevertheless, we are an opponent who wants to assert their game and do something with the ball. That is also our definition of football.
“He is noticeably hungry,” said Arp of his former team FC Bayern.
Bayern started the season with two wins. How do you rate FC Bayern this season?
In Bayern, you can already see the difference compared to last year. Especially at the beginning of the season, the attitude and hunger are noticeable, even though not everything was perfect. And as the saying goes: a hungry wolf runs faster. After last season, the Bundesliga is a very important place for Bayern Munich. Therefore, the possibility that FC Bayern will underestimate us seems to be somewhat lower than last year.
But not everything goes smoothly for FC Bayern.
This is obvious when you see the coach change. But we are talking about the perfection that FC Bayern has. Nevertheless, they won both games against a difficult team. I don’t think that they still win games. The criticism that is being raised against FC Bayern is already very high. That is why I am sure that we can create one or two scoring chances against FC Bayern, who are having a good day. But whether we can succeed against FC Bayern is an area that we can only partially influence.
Arp is looking forward to meeting a familiar face in his showdown with the record champion.
You were at FC Bayern from 2019 to 2022. Will this be a special game for you?
I am looking forward to meeting some familiar faces who I have spent many years with and have had some great interpersonal moments with. Overall, it is a big deal for me that FC Bayern is coming to Kiel and we are playing a Bundesliga game here.
Does it give you more to recommend yourself for the starting 11 during the training week before a game like this?
meI would like to ask the players who decide what kind of training performance they will show during the week, depending on the opponent at the weekend. But everyone wants to play against such a team. But in the end, I think everyone wants to talk about not being there but about getting a point. So the motivation is not about who is on the pitch against Bayern, but about who gets the first Bundesliga point or even the first Bundesliga win against Holstein Kiel.
Former Bayern striker Jewell Arp: “Everything that happened was very important to me.”
You came to Munich as the ‘talent of the century’ but failed to make a breakthrough. What do you think of your time at FC Bayern?
Especially thanks to the success in Kiel last year, I can live much better than I would have otherwise. It took some time, but everything made sense. Everything that happened was very important to me. On the one hand, I was able to witness the promotion with Kiel, and on the other hand, it was an experience that allowed me to return to the Bundesliga. It was a piece of the puzzle that made me who I am now. And I can live very well in the current situation.
Looking back, was the move to FC Bayern too quick?
I don’t know if it’s right or wrong for my personal development because I haven’t experienced other scenarios. When I look at where I am now and how I should do it in my career, my time at FC Bayern has definitely played a role. Especially as a young player, it’s not a bad thing to go through difficult phases in your career, especially if you can turn it around. That’s why I’m glad I’m here now. It’s been a great learning experience. I’ve seen a lot of things at FC Bayern that many professional players don’t see in their careers.
Earning points would be a huge success for Holstein Kiel
So did FC Bayern Station still help you develop?
Even if it’s not enough to just play in the Bundesliga, the impression that you can maintain this level for two years is something that doesn’t hurt any footballer. I learned a lot.
What do you remember specifically?
Look at how the players there play every week, how they work, and how they think about the sport. Playing football at FC Bayern is different from playing anywhere else.
Back to the game: What do you think of the headline “Arp hands Bayern their first defeat to Kompany”?
The title says we won and I did my part, so I really want to read it that way (laughs). But I believe that everyone who supports Holstein Kiel will put aside their personal vanity now and if it is clear that Holstein Kiel is at least FC Bayern, everyone will have a big smile on their face at 8:15 on Saturday evening. They wouldn’t have given Munich three points. That would be a huge success for us.
