Happy Birthday, Simon

Simon, first of all, we wish you a very happy birthday. Will there be a big party at the Rolfes house today?

Rolfes: Thank you for your congratulations. No, we will celebrate quietly as a family at home. 35 is not a round number so we’ll take it easy. I'm on the road so much with work that I very much enjoy every day I can get at home. My three daughters have painted wonderful pictures for me as a present and that really bowled me over.

And three points for the Werkself on Sunday – that would make it a perfect weekend…

Rolfes: I'll cross my fingers and I'm interested to see which Roger Schmidt team comes out of the blocks in 2017. Ahead of the first competitive match, we have to say "the same procedure as every year": Just finished the training camp with more or less meaningful friendlies, you can assess the mood, aim high for the new year and be full of energy. But the really crucial thing is the result of the first two or three competitive matches. The first game always throws up surprises. What use are the best preparations if you come a cropper in the first few games. However, if you get positive results than that can give you a real boost for the rest of the season.

Do you think Bayer 04 will be first out of the blocks?

Rolfes: Yes, everything points to a successful start. The team won all the friendlies and the mood within the squad is outstanding. And, above all, the personnel situation looks very positive to me. Karim Bellarabi is back! And that really deserves an exclamation mark as Karim is so important for the team. He's the one who can make the difference and he'll provide a really strong boost now. He can really enthuse players around him. Kevin Volland and Lars Bender are also due back any time. Roger Schmidt almost has his full squad to choose from.

The Werkself will have to pull out all the stops against third-placed Hertha Berlin. What's your assessment of the Berliners?

Rolfes: It's good that a team like Hertha is first up at the BayArena as that's a real challenge. I have to admit I didn't think the Berliners would be so high up this season. But now they're producing – as they did for much of last season – very consistent and impressive performances. The team doesn't have that many brilliant individuals. But they thrive on togetherness, discipline and a very solid base in terms of football. So I think a strong opponent is just right for the first match. Every player knows he has to be fully focused and committed on Sunday to make sure of getting off to a good start.