p>The wait is nearly over. After missing out on the DFB Cup final at the semifinal stage in the last two years, VfL Wolfsburg are finally headed to Berlin. On the 30th May things will especially hit home for Diego Benaglio when his side face Borussia Dortmund in the Olympiastadion. The VfL goalkeeper got a glimpse of the trophy as it was returned Berlin this week. In an interview with DFB.de the Swiss keeper talks about the significance of the cup final and the appreciation for it in his home country.
DFB.de: Are you happy that your holidays will be delayed a little longer?
Diego Benaglio: Luckily I hadn’t planned any yet. I’d gladly wait an extra week just so I could take part in such an occasion. This final is a dream for anybody who plays in Germany, therefore it is wonderful that we have managed to get there. We are very excited to be going to Berlin. We’re all more than happy to delay our holidays by a week for that.
DFB.de: Wolfsburg have been so close to the final in the last few years, without quite making it to Berlin. Why do you think that is?
Benaglio: On the one hand that’s down to us, on the other it’s a bit to do with the draw. In seven and a half years I have played in five semifinals for Wolfsburg and three of them were away in Munich. Everyone knows that is no easy task. Last year we were in Dortmund, where it was definitely possible to reach the final. But we didn’t make our chances count. This time it was a lot easier to qualify against Bielefeld.
DFB.de: Was the cup final a must watch for you growing up?
Benaglio: Of course, I always watch it, unless I am on holiday without a TV. The DFB cup has huge significance, it’s a massive occasion.
DFB.de: Is there excitement in your home country that a Swiss player will be in the final?
Benaglio: Yes people have definitely taken note of that. The nearer the game gets, the bigger it will become, for sure. The Swiss follow the Bundesliga a lot, therefore there will be a lot of people in my homeland watching the final
DFB.de: You’ve played in some big tournaments and won the Bundesliga in 2009. How closely would you regard the DFB cup final to these other achievements?
Benaglio: It’s definitely a highlight, without a doubt. But of course such a game will live longer in the memory if you win it.
DFB.de: Do you ever think about what it would be like to win the cup, with the confetti everywhere and you holding the cup high?
Benaglio: Of course I have these thoughts. That’s the goal for us. For the club and for the city of Wolfsburg it would be a very special victory. We will do everything for that. The excitement is noticeable, everyone is itching for this game. We want to reward ourselves and our fans with a trophy after a wonderful season.
DFB.de: In January you lost a teammate when Junior Malanda passed away. How much do you think about him, especially during such a successful period?
Benaglio: Very often, and I think the same goes for everyone at the club. Junior was a very important player in the team. There are no words for such a tragedy. It was so horrible and difficult to accept it and move on from it. He is still a part of this team, this club and it will always stay that way. He will never be forgotten. If we are able to win the cup, it will definitely be for Junior too.
DFB.de: Wolfsburg have been consistently strong all season and have already qualified for the Champions League. Is it the consistency that has made the difference to previous years?
Benaglio: After winning the title, we have a few years where it was difficult, where we didn’t quite have the continuity. Since Klaus Allofs and Dieter Hecking have been at Wolfsburg, we have managed to develop, bit by bit. We’re moving in the right direction, but we know we haven’t reached the end yet. We can still, and must, improve in many areas. We will work on that.
DFB.de: When people talk about Wolfsburg, they often mention the strength in attack, but how important of a role do the defence play in the team’s success?
Benaglio: It’s just as important. We have found a very good balance. Of course it helps when we score a lot of goals. But fundamentally you need the attackers to be the first line of the defence to break up the opponent’s possession. The team are working well together.
DFB.de: Dortmund have featured in several DFB cup finals in recent years. Can this experience be an advantage for them?
Benaglio: I’m not sure, I suppose we will soon find out. But I don’t think it should be a complete advantage. Of course they are familiar with the occasion and conditions. But on the day, both teams will just be focussed on the game and won’t be thinking about anything else. In such a final, a lot depends on who you play on the day, and sometimes having the rub of the green. But the decisive factor will be whoever can best bring their quality to the pitch.
created by mmc/jm
p>The wait is nearly over. After missing out on the DFB Cup final at the semifinal stage in the last two years, VfL Wolfsburg are finally headed to Berlin. On the 30th May things will especially hit home for Diego Benaglio when his side face Borussia Dortmund in the Olympiastadion. The VfL goalkeeper got a glimpse of the trophy as it was returned Berlin this week. In an interview with DFB.de the Swiss keeper talks about the significance of the cup final and the appreciation for it in his home country.
DFB.de: Are you happy that your holidays will be delayed a little longer?
Diego Benaglio: Luckily I hadn’t planned any yet. I’d gladly wait an extra week just so I could take part in such an occasion. This final is a dream for anybody who plays in Germany, therefore it is wonderful that we have managed to get there. We are very excited to be going to Berlin. We’re all more than happy to delay our holidays by a week for that.
DFB.de: Wolfsburg have been so close to the final in the last few years, without quite making it to Berlin. Why do you think that is?
Benaglio: On the one hand that’s down to us, on the other it’s a bit to do with the draw. In seven and a half years I have played in five semifinals for Wolfsburg and three of them were away in Munich. Everyone knows that is no easy task. Last year we were in Dortmund, where it was definitely possible to reach the final. But we didn’t make our chances count. This time it was a lot easier to qualify against Bielefeld.
DFB.de: Was the cup final a must watch for you growing up?
Benaglio: Of course, I always watch it, unless I am on holiday without a TV. The DFB cup has huge significance, it’s a massive occasion.
DFB.de: Is there excitement in your home country that a Swiss player will be in the final?
Benaglio: Yes people have definitely taken note of that. The nearer the game gets, the bigger it will become, for sure. The Swiss follow the Bundesliga a lot, therefore there will be a lot of people in my homeland watching the final
DFB.de: You’ve played in some big tournaments and won the Bundesliga in 2009. How closely would you regard the DFB cup final to these other achievements?
Benaglio: It’s definitely a highlight, without a doubt. But of course such a game will live longer in the memory if you win it.
DFB.de: Do you ever think about what it would be like to win the cup, with the confetti everywhere and you holding the cup high?
Benaglio: Of course I have these thoughts. That’s the goal for us. For the club and for the city of Wolfsburg it would be a very special victory. We will do everything for that. The excitement is noticeable, everyone is itching for this game. We want to reward ourselves and our fans with a trophy after a wonderful season.
DFB.de: In January you lost a teammate when Junior Malanda passed away. How much do you think about him, especially during such a successful period?
Benaglio: Very often, and I think the same goes for everyone at the club. Junior was a very important player in the team. There are no words for such a tragedy. It was so horrible and difficult to accept it and move on from it. He is still a part of this team, this club and it will always stay that way. He will never be forgotten. If we are able to win the cup, it will definitely be for Junior too.
DFB.de: Wolfsburg have been consistently strong all season and have already qualified for the Champions League. Is it the consistency that has made the difference to previous years?
Benaglio: After winning the title, we have a few years where it was difficult, where we didn’t quite have the continuity. Since Klaus Allofs and Dieter Hecking have been at Wolfsburg, we have managed to develop, bit by bit. We’re moving in the right direction, but we know we haven’t reached the end yet. We can still, and must, improve in many areas. We will work on that.
DFB.de: When people talk about Wolfsburg, they often mention the strength in attack, but how important of a role do the defence play in the team’s success?
Benaglio: It’s just as important. We have found a very good balance. Of course it helps when we score a lot of goals. But fundamentally you need the attackers to be the first line of the defence to break up the opponent’s possession. The team are working well together.
DFB.de: Dortmund have featured in several DFB cup finals in recent years. Can this experience be an advantage for them?
Benaglio: I’m not sure, I suppose we will soon find out. But I don’t think it should be a complete advantage. Of course they are familiar with the occasion and conditions. But on the day, both teams will just be focussed on the game and won’t be thinking about anything else. In such a final, a lot depends on who you play on the day, and sometimes having the rub of the green. But the decisive factor will be whoever can best bring their quality to the pitch.
