DW-WORLD: Mr. Götz, you were a professional player with Hertha, then youth coordinator, amateur coach and even interim coach. Is it your life's dream to now be the regular coach with this club?

Götz: Yes, absolutely. I have been working towards this since my career as a footballer came to an end; to work as a coach. And with Hertha, that is for me, of course, something quite special. I am a Berliner by birth; I grew up in Berlin and have identified with this club as a fan from my early childhood. I finished my professional career here, and for a long time I have prepared for this post in different positions at the club. It has always been very special to me to be associated with this club.

DW: What manager Dieter Hoeness called the "horror season" is now behind the club. Instead of fighting for the Champions League, Hertha fought against relegation. Now the team spirit has been considerably strengthened. What must happen for Hertha to make the Champions League again and can this be a realistic goal for the club?

Götz: We have increased the number of individual talents: names like Yildiray Bastürk and Gilberto speak for themselves. These are creative people who will certainly help our cause. But also last year, the players had a very strong individual spirit. But it was not harnessed to benefit the team. The task which now presents itself is to form this huge number of individual stars into a team - if we can do this, then I am sure that we will have a successful season.

DW: How do you begin to build a functioning team? Last season's team appeared extremely unstable. How do you intend to change this?

Götz: We need responsibility in the positions, we need a structure within the team - and the players must clearly define for themselves what they want to achieve. One must also promote the idea that each player knows that others are taking responsibility and that their team mates are backing them up so risks can be taken to win the game.

DW: Do you already have your team in mind?

Götz: I have a certain formation already. That formation can change due to individual performances as well as through injuries. That is the nature of things. To have only one team in the head is dangerous.

DW: The season starts very soon and now comes the moment of truth. Are you satisfied at this point?

Götz: We have worked very intensely here in Berlin, training up to three times a day. The boys have found their rhythm almost immediately. Then we have had training camps, where we have tried to concentrate on tactics. Finally, we had three test games against quality opponents all of which we have won. Now we look to the finishing touches, to speed and commitment so we can start the campaign brightly and with a lot of assurance.

DW: Hertha's season objective last year was a top five finish. Does this go for this year too?

Götz: Last year we put ourselves very much under pressure, saying we wanted to finish in the Champions League spots. We all know what happened. We want to avoid this. Next year, we have a lot of contracts expiring and will probably have to rebuild the team. So what counts this year is to get to work, improve on our achievements, and remain in the Bundesliga.

DW: You were coach to Jiayi Shao at 1860 Munich, maybe one of the most popular Chinese footballers. Have you discovered any differences, besides those of mentality, between Chinese and German football?

Götz: Jiayi came, of course, from another culture and needed quite a while to acclimatize to the pressure of German football. One has seen from the start that he is an extremely technically gifted player with stunning pace and, above all, a very strong left foot. He is also more than 1.80 meters tall, and can compete strongly in the tackle. I was a great fan and was sad to see him sidelined with a heavy knee injury last summer. He had completed nine months of his trial period and could have challenged for a place but the injury has set him back a year.

DW: From a marketing aspect, almost every club wishes they had a Chinese player, however, only a few make the leap into a professional European team. Why?

Götz: Technically, the Chinese are often trained extremely well. The problem is often the tactics. They are often very offensive. Shao had definite offensive qualities but had to train very hard to think defensively. If one works individually with them, there are indeed some Chinese players who could assert themselves in the Bundesliga.

DW: Does Hertha keep an eye on the Chinese market?

Götz: Of course. We constantly view what talents come through in the Chinese player's market. If we find a player, we like to bring them in and train them independently, and if it all works out maybe that player will appear for us in the Bundesliga.

DW: Can it be assumed then that Hertha will eventually be seen in China?

Götz: I would expect so. The Chinese market thirsts for football. The Chinese people are eager for football - and China is therefore an outlet for the big clubs. And with the chance to win around new fans, it is surely conceivable that we will tour China.

Hertha Berlin's Falko Götz was speaking to Oliver Samson (nda)