Dardai: We all dream of going a long way in the cup – for the club, for the fans and for us all. We're pursuing this dream, regardless of whom we're facing.
DFB.de: It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Heidenheim. Reaching the semi-finals of the DFB Cup would probably be the biggest achievement in the history of the club. With that in mind, how do you think they'll play?
Dardai: Heidenheim have a strong, driven and hardworking team, with plenty of versatile and quick players. We're aware of that and we'll be focused on it.
DFB.de: How exactly are you going to set your team up?
Dardai: We have our work cut out in Heidenheim, and we'll go about it in an dedicated and focused manner. If we do that, we have a very good chance of progressing.
DFB.de: How much confidence are you taking from the Borussia game? It was the first time anyone's managed to prevent Dortmund from scoring this season.
Dardai: The 0-0 draw and all the compliments that follow it are irrelevant. It's all about the fight in the cup now.
DFB.de: Can you name three reasons why things are going to much better for Hertha this season than they have in the recent past?
Pal Dardai says it would be "a dream" to reach the DFB Cup final – in Berlin, with Berlin. The Hertha BSC manager has put his team in a better position to achieve just that than they have been in for a long time. The third-placed side in the league gained even more confidence from their 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, and their Hungarian coach spoke to DFB.de with their cup quarter-final against 1. FC Heidenheim coming up this evening.
DFB.de: Mr Dardai, if the point against Dortmund was nice, how would it feel to progress to the DFB Cup semi-finals?
Pal Dardai: You can't compare the two as the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup are two different things. We need to do our job. It's all or nothing for us in Heidenheim – we need to be completely alert so that we don't fall victim to an upset.
DFB.de: How do you get your players fired up for 1. FC Heidenheim?
Dardai: I don't need to do anything. Everyone knows what's at stake. My team are capable of concentrating – it's one of our strengths.
DFB.de: Is it easier to motivate your team against a side of the calibre of Borussia Dortmund than it is for a game against a second-division outfit?
Dardai: Both are equally as important, which we're all well aware of.
DFB.de: Things are going incredibly well for you in the league this season. Is a game against an underdog a potential banana skin?
Dardai: We all dream of going a long way in the cup – for the club, for the fans and for us all. We're pursuing this dream, regardless of whom we're facing.
DFB.de: It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Heidenheim. Reaching the semi-finals of the DFB Cup would probably be the biggest achievement in the history of the club. With that in mind, how do you think they'll play?
Dardai: Heidenheim have a strong, driven and hardworking team, with plenty of versatile and quick players. We're aware of that and we'll be focused on it.
DFB.de: How exactly are you going to set your team up?
Dardai: We have our work cut out in Heidenheim, and we'll go about it in an dedicated and focused manner. If we do that, we have a very good chance of progressing.
DFB.de: How much confidence are you taking from the Borussia game? It was the first time anyone's managed to prevent Dortmund from scoring this season.
Dardai: The 0-0 draw and all the compliments that follow it are irrelevant. It's all about the fight in the cup now.
DFB.de: Can you name three reasons why things are going to much better for Hertha this season than they have in the recent past?
Dardai: Team spirit, style of play, fitness.
DFB.de: Does your team already have the required stability to carry the club through to the final of the DFB Cup?
Dardai: We're not talking about that yet. We need to complete our task in the quarter-final first, and that's demanding enough. Heidenheim are a good team.
DFB.de: What would an appearance in the cup final mean for you, the club and the fans?
Dardai: If it happened, it'd be a dream come true. It's as simple as that!
