In Fürth, they’re starting to draw parallels between this campaign and the 2011/12 season, when their second division side made it all the way to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. That time, they were unluckily knocked out by a winner in the last minute of extra time against Borussia Dortmund. This year, Fürth find themselves on another cup run, as after already beating one Bundesliga side in the last round in the shape of 1. FSV Mainz 05, they now face Europa League contestants Borussia Mönchengladbach (07/02, 20:45 CET). “It will be an amazing game, a highlight for every one of our players,” said Fürth’s current top scorer, Serdar Dursun.
On Sunday, Fürth topped up their confidence with a 4-1 win over Hannover 96, while Gladbach have too improved lately. Dieter Hecking’s men followed up their extraordinary 3-2 win in Leverkusen with a 3-0 triumph over SC Freiburg. “Gladbach are back to where they were last season,” explained Fürth president, Helmut Hack. “Individually, they have a stronger team,” he noted.
Hecking: We can’t ease off
The DFB Cup is the Fohlene’s biggest chance to make up for a currently below-par season. “The cup competition to a good opportunity to save a season which until now hasn’t been too good,” commented Lars Stindl. “I don’t consider us worse than many of the other teams that have made it to the final.” But Hecking warns: “We can’t think that we can give less than in a normal Bundesliga game.”
The head-to-head record of this fixture is clearly in favour of the Fohlenelf. The two sides have faced each other nine times and this Tuesday’s underdogs haven’t won a single one of these encounters. In the only DFB Cup game contested by these clubs, Fürth were beaten 6-0 in December 1983 – the highest recorded defeat ever in the competition.
Herrmann already back in the starting XI?
In the weekend’s game against Freiburg, Patrick Herrmann enjoyed a short appearance to mark his comeback from injury. Now, Dieter Hecking will have to decide whether he is ready for a starting spot. Meanwhile, Jonas Hofmann, Timothee Kolodziejczak, Nico Elvedi, Tobias Strobl and Ibrahima Traore will all miss out with injuries for Gladbach. On the other side of the ring, Fürth coach Janos Radoki will have both of his last-minute additions at his disposal - Johannes van den Bergh, who boasts Bundesliga experience and Adam Pinter, who took part in the summer’s European Championships with Hungary.
DFB goalkeeper coach Andreas Köpke will also be in attendance.