Bayern's focus was more on Champions League this season, says Giovane Élber

The legend gave his opinions on Bayern Munich’s ongoing season, Champions League, Bundesliga's exciting title race, Jamal Musiala and more in a candid conversation

Giovane Élber is a famous name in German football. The former professional is regarded as one of the best strikers ever to grace the German top flight. He was a sensational player for the Brazil national team and took to the field for teams such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Olympique Lyon and VfB Stuttgart.

The Bundesliga legend won the Champions League in 2001, alongside many trophies for Bayern such as the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup. He also won the Ligue 1 and French Super Cup with Olympique Lyon.

The Bundesliga legend (Giovane Élber) took part in a very insightful and candid conversation with KhelNow where he talked about the exciting Bundesliga title race, Bayern Munich's ongoing season, Bayern’s young sensation Jamal Musiala, Bayern’s Champions League exit, next season's ambitions and much more.

Here are the excerpts from the exclusive interview with legendary Brazilain footballer Giovane Élber:

What are your thoughts on Bayern Munich's season so far?

"Yeah obviously it's clear, the season is not actually expected. We lost too much, too many points. We did some mistakes during the season. So, but it also means that now, the league is more interesting. Dortmund are very close to us and, obviously, the next match against Leipzig is very important and, if we win that then we're gonna become, a champion of the season of Bundesliga."

Before the season, everybody said that it would be more interesting if it was closer, on the top of the league.

"So, and now we have it, of course, bad for us, but now we have that situation and, now it's time that we stick together and we give everything to, to become the German champions yet again."

The one shining light throughout the season has been Jamal Musiala. How highly do you rate Jamal Musiala amongst all the youngsters in the world?

"He's a world-class footballer, especially at his age. He's one of the best in the world and very important for him and especially, his mindset, his head. He's very clear in his mind and that's, that's very important.

When they're so polite, you know, also that they can, so when he, when he stays like this, when he stays on the track, then he can become, yeah, one of the best in the world."

Besides Musiala, which other Bayern players have impressed you very much over this season?

"Yeah there is, yeah, so Matthijs de Ligt impressed him the most when he came from Juventus, he already showed his mindset, let's say he, he gives everything on the pitch and, and every match and yeah, he has also shown like he has this winning mentality. "

Which other club in the Bundesliga has really impressed you this season?

"SC Freiburg, Union Berlin because they've shown they don't have that much money. But how they created the team together with the coach, the style of football they play is absolutely impressive and it showed how you can be successful also with the limited resources you have in terms of money and both coaches did an amazing job and it's, and it's nice to watch both teams.

Also don't forget Bayer Leverkusen, especially when Xabi Alonso joined them, they were on the bottom of the league and now they're are going up and up and up and up and playing amazing style of football and also in the Europa League, they are at the moment in the semifinals. So amazing job and also amazing football they play."

The close title race, is it added pressure or added motivation to win?

"It is added motivation because you always have pressure at Bayern, that's totally normal. But of course, now you get more, more motivation in that tight little race, especially at Bayern because if you don't, win one title in one season, then it's a lost season. So it's high motivation and of course, at Bayern and our ambition is always to win titles and, and our motivation to give everything in the last two matches to fill at least to, to win at least this title on the side.

Don't forget Dortmund, of course, we lost nine points since Christmas. So they were 9 points behind us and now they are, they're just one point behind us. They also were, were leading the, the like two or three matches.

So don't forget don't forget that the tide race we are, we are not 100% self-confident as we were in the last season. So it's not very clear that we (Bayern Munich) were gonna win both, both matches, but of course, we hope."

What went wrong this season?

"One reason is also that after 10 titles in a row in the German Bundesliga, the focus was more on the Champions League potentially.

And now after we lost in the, in the Champions League, the focus went a little bit down, but now it's 100% again there on the Bundesliga again. "

What areas or what positions do you think Bayern need to target to upgrade on the side and go for the Champions League title?

"Obviously, like everybody is discussing, it's a striker. There are responsible people who are looking for it. They will, we're hoping we, we, we get a good striker for next season obviously and don't forget the two strikers, we already have Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who was when he was fit, he absolutely scored and especially don't forget Mathys Tel, he's still very young, but very, very talented and his time will come, that's for sure. So don't forget those two."

How do you think VAR has had a good impact on football or is it not good for football?

"So, yeah, I think it's good because it gives also the referee the, opportunity to, to look again their decisions and to correct themselves in terms of penalties and, and tight decisions. So in general, it's a good thing."

Who according to you is the best striker of all time and one striker currently who you would call the best in the world?

"The best striker in the world currently, you know, Erling Haaland.

Overall, Cristiano Ronaldo, he's shown it with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus and now in Saudi Arabia. He has concrete focus. Yeah, so he always showed wherever he was, he can score goals. It doesn't matter if it was Real Madrid or Juventus. Now in Saudi Arabia, he still knows where the goal is."

What is the favourite goal you scored in your entire career?

"If I had to take one, the one in Madrid 5000 times in the Champions League. So it was in 2001 Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid. We won the UCL and I scored that goal. That was my favourite one. The ones against the Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United soccer clubs because those are the best matches, right?

You always dream or you always want to play those, those teams especially Real, especially in that stadium. And then if you also still have the possibility to score a goal against them in their stadium, it's outstanding."

Any memory that stands out from your playing career?

So my most outstanding memory is the win of the Champions League title in 2001. Outstanding also because if we didn't have the most expensive team, but we had the best team on the team. So, and that was outstanding when we won it.