Karimi gets his timing right

Dubai: Iranian Ali Karimi feels his timely move to German giants Bayern Munich has helped him evolve into a much better player.

"With all respect to the UAE, I feel the last few months with Bayern Munich have helped me evolve as a better player," Karimi admitted during the daily news meeting with reporters at the Emirates Towers Hotel yesterday.

"The first six months have been good, and I hope the next six months will be even better for me," he said.

"I don't think it will be fair to draw a comparison between UAE and German soccer. There is a huge difference."

Karimi made a move from Persepolis to Dubai's Al Ahli and spent the next three seasons here bagging the 2004 AFC Player of the Year Award.

But last summer he received an offer from Bayern which he found difficult to resist.

Growing with team

"I think some people will find this difficult to believe, but I was waiting for the right time to make my move to a top European club," Karimi said.

"I was waiting for the right time to make my move. And then Bayern came along and made me an offer which I found difficult to turn down," Karimi stated.

"It's been just six months since I moved to Munich. I will grow with the team."

Much has been expected of the Iranian since he stepped onto the Munich portals. However, he has not been a regular on coach Felix Magath's list.

But he refuses to be overawed by the situation allowing his on-field magic do the talking.

"It has been good for me at Bayern Munich so far. Being with so many great players, practicing with them every day. Such things have helped me adapt and adjust to the club," Karimi stated.

"My goal now is to do even better. I think there is enough space for me to do more and help the team," he said.

With the Bundesliga on its annual winter break, Bayern Munich are at the top with 44 points six points clear of second-placed Hamburg.

Karimi has made use of the limited chances he got and has been instrumental in the Bayern success, scoring his first Bundesliga goal against Borussia Monchengladbach in mid-August.

He vouched to continue training harder with his team and try and achieve even more. "It is necessary to train more. I have a lot of self-confidence, but I need to make this 100 per cent. I know I am very self-confident on the field, but it is confidence off the field that I worry about," Karimi said. "Once I get this right, I know I will be hard to stop."

The Iranian is in no hurry, and is willing to bide his time. "With 100 per cent self-confidence, I can help the team reach greater heights. I have been with Bayern for just six months. I will grow with Bayern."

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

Star learning the German ropes

After spending six months in Munich, Ali Karimi knows just enough German to get himself around. "Dubai was good. But my time at Bayern Munich has been so much of a learning curve," Karimi said.

His main handicap, however, is his inability to converse in German. "I know very little German. I just know how to say 'hello', 'thank you', 'right' and 'left'," Karimi said. "I think this is just enough to get me around while I am there," he smiled.

The Iranian said that his family may join him in Munich. "The past few months have been busy. My family will join me soon," Karimi said.