<span class="fcc003318px">‘No criticism of our 12 million true fans’</span></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> The Bundesliga is taking a break at the moment, but fierce debate surrounds Bayern in the media and among fans after Uli Hoeneß’ impassioned statements at the AGM, a flurry of transfer rumours, speculation over Lukas Podolski’s future at the club, and much more. Interviewed on Bavarian TV’s Monday evening Blickpunkt Sport, Uli Hoeneß clarified his position on the current situation at the club. fcbayern.de summarises the general manager’s most significant statements. Uli Hoeneß on… …his angry outburst at the AGM: “The force of my emotions has created the impression that I was attacking our fans. That’s total nonsense. Bayern has 2,300 official fan clubs with 165,000 members – I wasn’t addressing any single one of these people. There are two groups, not registered as fan clubs, who have applied a huge amount of pressure to the club, especially in recent months – and I was talking to them. They’re after more power and influence, they want control of the entire South terrace. I’ve spoken at length with both groups in recent weeks and we’ve fundamentally met their demands. I had the feeling we were approaching an accommodation, but then they stood up on the evening and repeated their accusations, and I lost my rag. In the first place, I don’t think the atmosphere in the stadium is at all bad, and second, I’m of the opinion it’s precisely these two groups who don’t want a decent atmosphere. They won’t allow our other fan clubs any chance to participate. They’re acting as if they alone represent the entire Bayern fan scene. We’re talking about 300 to 500 people, but Bayern has a total of 12 million fans.” …talk of a crisis at the club: “Karl-Heinz Rummenigge simply said he wasn’t happy with the way rotation was working, but that created the impression of a split. We’ve learnt that we should try and let off steam behind closed doors. Whenever anything happens at Bayern, it’s reported as a minor earthquake. Since then, we’ve had a productive series of talks with Ottmar Hitzfeld, and we’re in complete agreement now.“ …reported interest in Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez: “We’ve not spoken to Liverpool nor to Senor Benitez. I’m a very good friend of Ottmar Hitzfeld and I’ve given him my word that he’s the first person we’ll talk to in the winter break. If our talks are successful, we’ll have no need to talk to anyone else. If there’s no result, we’ll start thinking about another coach. But until we’ve talked to Ottmar in the winter break, you can take it there’s nothing to any rumours.“ …Valérien Ismael’s future: “Ottmar Hitzfeld has told Valérien that he has no first-team role at the moment. Valérien replied that in that case, he’d like to find a new club during the winter break. We’ve agreed to his request. If he finds a club, he can leave.“ …Brazilian central defender Breno: “We’re interested in the player. We’ve opened talks, but there’s no final result just yet. If he’s coming, it’ll be in the winter break.“ …rumours linking Philipp Lahm with Barcelona: “When you have a player like Philipp Lahm, whose contract expires in 2009, you’re bound to get any number of approaches. But I’m assuming Philipp will talk to us first. I cannot believe he’d negotiate with Barcelona behind our backs.“ …Lukas Podolski: “Lukas has come on extremely well in recent weeks. He’s tackled the enormous challenge we’ve set him. When he’s played, he’s been brilliant, against Bolton for example. He’s thrown himself into it and has become a genuine alternative. If he’s learnt to grit his teeth and get stuck in – something he didn’t have to do in Cologne – and keeps it up, he’ll make the breakthrough here, I’m convinced of that.“</div></p>