Despite Sven-Goran Eriksson’s ongoing overhaul of the City squad, ‘Didi’ has featured regularly during the pre-season programme and is confident that his experience will count in his favour when the boss makes his first league team selection.
Hamann says: “More players means more competition, that’s better for me and for the team. You get pushed hard, you need to be on top of your game to play a match but that can only be good for myself.
“Since I started playing I’ve had competition, I’ve never feared it and I won’t this coming season either. I didn’t play well enough last season, but I’ve had a good pre-season with no injuries and I’m looking forward to Saturday.
“We have a few midfielders now, but it does not worry me, whoever comes in I’ll fight for my place and I’ll be ready.”
The classy German midfielder, a World Cup finalist and Champions League winner, was hampered by injuries in his first season with the Blues, which saw him start just 14 games.
Injured just before the start of last season on the tour of China, he’s delighted to have come through the last month unscathed, adding:
“I want to play more games than last year, and show everyone what I’m capable of. We should be looking at the top 10, with everyone to settle in we have to take it game by game but I’m pretty hopeful.
“We lacked strength in depth last season, if we had a few injuries the cover just wasn’t there so it’s good to have a lot more faces around. It’s up to the team now to put a disappointing season behind us.”
Didi also spoke out about the recent rumours that he was on the verge of a move to Munich 1860, saying:
“I’ve only been told that that was floating around, but there’s been no contact at all. Until I’m told otherwise, I’ll fight for my place but I think that things will go better than last year.”
