PeteFCB

In a double interview with @BILD, Bayern and Schalke bosses, Herbert Hainer and Axel Hefer, discuss the state of the Bundesliga and Bayern's dominance • Hefer: "From a fan’s perspective, and also from Bayern’s perspective, I don’t think the current outcome is ideal. In his 13 years of life, my son has only experienced a different German champion once, that becomes boring. I believe Bayern, too, should have a strong interest in rethinking the league format. That way, they can continue playing in the Champions League every year, while at the same time bringing a little more excitement to the league." • Hainer responds: "I assume you’re referring to the introduction of a playoff system. We see things differently. Whoever is at the top after 34 matchdays should be crowned German champion. The best example is last season’s basketball campaign: we finished comfortably top of the table after the regular season, but then lost the final playoff game against Alba Berlin because our team was simply exhausted after 83 games over the course of the season. Don’t get me wrong: Alba were the better team in the final series and therefore deserved to win. But the fairest system is for the team at the top after the regular season to be crowned German champions. We shouldn’t talk the league down. Two years ago, Leverkusen won the title, and there is always a close battle for the European places and against relegation as well. And Mr. Hefer, Schalke will also have sold out every match this season. So, in that respect, you cannot say that the Bundesliga is boring." • Hefer: "When listen to you, Mr. Hainer, I believe we have fundamentally different views on this point. We have made it our mission to inspire and excite people, that is our highest principle. Success is a key factor in that, but it does not stand above everything else. If I were in your position, I would not find it desirable to become champions every single year - excitement comes from achieving something that was never guaranteed in the first place" • Hainer: "I can assure you that we excite our fans more than enough. When ticket sales for the following season begin at the end of a campaign, every single match - with 75,000 spectators - is sold out within three hours. We have seen a surge in membership over the past two years like never before - 1,000 new members every week. We are now well over 450,000 members in total. So I cannot say that our fans are not excited about FC Bayern. Everywhere we go for away matches, the stadiums are sold out. No other club in the Bundesliga achieves that. And you are right, there is a disagreement between us on this point: I want to become champion every single year"