The DFB Cup final between Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund takes place on Saturday (20:00 CEST). For Marco Fritz, the man in the middle, it’s the high point so far in his career. In a discussion with DFB.de and Norman Arnold, the FIFA referee, who has previously taken charge of 93 Bundesliga games, spoke about the moment he found out about refereeing the final and his role model Heinz Aldinger.
DFB.de: Mr Fritz, how are you training in preparation for the DFB Cup final?
Marco Fritz: I don’t have a special training plan for this game. At this stage of the season, it’s simply about keeping your fitness level high. My training consists of a mixture of interval runs, endurance training, stability exercises and strength work.
DFB.de: How did you feel when Herbert Fandel informed you that you’d be in charge of the DFB Cup final?
Fritz: Obviously great pleasure and excitement. I consider it a great honour for my entire team with Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim that we’ve been selected for this particular task.
DFB.de: You are the 66th referee to take charge of a DFB Cup final. Do you feel proud to be included in this select group?
Fritz: Taking charge of the DFB Cup final in Berlin is a something particularly special for each referee. I consider the nomination as recognition for my performances throughout the last season. At the same time, it’s a great incentive for myself and my team to keep training hard in order to be able to take charge of games at the highest possible level. Above all, I am pleased to follow in the footsteps of Heinz Aldinger.
DFB.de: Your role model?
The DFB Cup final between Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund takes place on Saturday (20:00 CEST). For Marco Fritz, the man in the middle, it’s the high point so far in his career. In a discussion with DFB.de and Norman Arnold, the FIFA referee, who has previously taken charge of 93 Bundesliga games, spoke about the moment he found out about refereeing the final and his role model Heinz Aldinger.
DFB.de: Mr Fritz, how are you training in preparation for the DFB Cup final?
Marco Fritz: I don’t have a special training plan for this game. At this stage of the season, it’s simply about keeping your fitness level high. My training consists of a mixture of interval runs, endurance training, stability exercises and strength work.
DFB.de: How did you feel when Herbert Fandel informed you that you’d be in charge of the DFB Cup final?
Fritz: Obviously great pleasure and excitement. I consider it a great honour for my entire team with Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim that we’ve been selected for this particular task.
DFB.de: You are the 66th referee to take charge of a DFB Cup final. Do you feel proud to be included in this select group?
Fritz: Taking charge of the DFB Cup final in Berlin is a something particularly special for each referee. I consider the nomination as recognition for my performances throughout the last season. At the same time, it’s a great incentive for myself and my team to keep training hard in order to be able to take charge of games at the highest possible level. Above all, I am pleased to follow in the footsteps of Heinz Aldinger.
DFB.de: Your role model?
Fritz: Role model is perhaps a bit strong but he definitely influenced me. He comes from Waiblingen, a town near to my own, and was a big name among referees when I first became interested in football. He took charge of the 1972 and 1980 cup finals.
DFB.de: How have you followed the final in recent years?
Fritz: Traditionally there’s a refereeing training course in Berlin at the end of the season so I was regularly at the stadium for the final. I was the fourth official in 2012 as Peter Gagelmann oversaw the final. The match back then was also between Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund.
DFB.de: What is the particular appeal of the DFB Cup final?
Fritz: Compared to a Bundesliga game, the mood and atmosphere in Berlin are simply something else. No team has home advantage; both have the same number of fans – it’s a final.
DFB.de: Can you enjoy the atmosphere when you’re out on the pitch?
Fritz: We’ll see. I enjoyed it a lot as fourth official. Now I definitely intend to absorb the special moment and the mood at least in the warm up. As soon as the game starts though, your focus is completely on your task.
DFB.de: How difficult will your job be as two of the best German teams in Bayern and BVB go head to head?
Fritz: You can’t say that beforehand – it’s always different. It could be that there aren’t many challenges because both teams are strong playing sides. That doesn’t mean though that the game will be any less intense. On the contrary, the tempo could be a lot quicker because neither side is likely to sit back and defend. There’s no second leg to fall back on or speculate about. There will definitely be a winner.
DFB.de: As a referee, how do you prepare in terms of the tactical set-up of both teams?
Fritz: You obviously have an idea of the possible tactics of both teams but it doesn’t help to speculate. It would be disastrous to label it beforehand. It’s much better to keep all options open in order to not be surprised. You want to be prepared but not biased.
DFB.de: The whole of Germany will be watching this game and it’ll also be broadcast in more the 180 countries. Do you feel under any extra pressure?
Fritz: I can block all that out. As soon as the game kicks off, I’m no longer concerned with all the other external factors. It’s about the 22 players on the pitch, not the millions of viewers.
DFB.de: You took charge of the Bundesliga game between Bayern and BVB last October. What memories do you have of FCB’s 5-1 victory?
Fritz: Very good ones. It was the day after my birthday. It was a very quick game, both teams played attacking football and the game was relatively open at the start although München won comfortably in the end. It was intense but fair.
DFB.de: Where does the DFB Cup final rank in your career?
Fritz: It is certainly the highlight so far. I have already taken charge of plenty of games (including twelve in the DFB Cup, editor’s note.), among which were some great games but nothing of this magnitude.
DFB.de: And what about after the DFB Cup final? What are your next aims?
Fritz: I’m going to the European Championship in France with Dr. Felix Brych as additional assistant referees (positioned alongside each goal). So there’s only a relatively short period to wait until the next highlight.
