Dortmund and Wolfsburg will go head-to-head in the final in two weeks time but first they go up against each other in the Bundesliga at the weekend. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season,” said BVB chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke, “but things aren’t looking too bad now from a results point of view.” The final in Berlin will be Jürgen Klopp’s final game as BVB manager. “The hardest times are behind us and it will be an emotional time because after that it will all be over. Jürgen can inspire his team to perform beyond their capabilities. It’s the perfect way to sign off.”
Midfielder Nuri Sahin, who is currently injured, is hoping that his manager can sign off with the title: “We’ve had and are having a unique time. We would have liked to have won the treble but unfortunately that’s no longer possible. The DFB Cup would be a brilliant ending.”
It’s a similar situation at Wolfsburg in terms of their season. Wolfsburg are back among the top sides and have already qualified for the Champions League. “We are very happy as so far it has been an amazing season. There is nothing to complain about, even if we hadn’t made the final,” said sporting director Klaus Allofs. For Wolfsburg keeper and captain Diego Benaglio the final is a “career highlight, which has huge importance for both the club and the city.” The Switzerland international has been in reached the semi-finals on five occasions but this will be his first time in the final in Berlin. And he believes that “we (Wolfsburg) have a good chance.”
German President Joachim Gauck will be among the 75,000 fans present at the DFB Cup final. Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg will be the two sides in the final, which will take place in 19 days time on 30th May (20:00 CEST) in Berlin. The cup has now arrived in the capital.
At the traditional cup handover at the Red City Hall, representative of last year’s winner and record cup holders Bayern München Paul Breitner handed the trophy to DFB General Secretary Helmut Sandrock, who then passed it over to Berlin mayor Michael Müller. Fencing Olympic champion Britta Heidemann will bring the trophy into the ground at the final.
"The DFB Cup will be followed across the world"
This is the second trophy that Müller has been handed in a short space of time after the Champions League trophy arrived in the capital on 27th April ahead of the final there on 6th June. Müller has said that the final will be a great pleasure for him, just as the cup handover has been. “It’s particularly special to meet Klaus Allofs and Paul Breitner,” said the mayor. “I have known for a long time how nice it is to be mayor of Berlin. Today reminded me once more of how great that is.” The cup final will be extremely important for the capital as they will be able to show what a good host they are.
The final has been held in Berlin for the past 30 years. The first final in the capital back in 1985 ended in a 2-1 victory for Bayer Uerdingen over Bayern München. The DFB Cup has developed a lot since then and has become huge, as Helmut Sandrock emphasised: “The DFB Cup will be followed across the world and will be supported by fans and small clubs. That’s what makes it so special.”
Hawk-Eye to make debut in German football
There will also be a special moment of history at the final on 30th May 2015. For the first time, goal line technology will be used in a football match in Germany. Hawk-Eye should prevent incidents, such as Bayern’s Dante clearing Mats Hummels header from behind the line, from happening again.
“We’re delighted that we now have goal line technology,” said DFB General Secretary Sandrock. “Hawk-Eye has worked extremely well in the Premier League. There won’t be any queries and it won’t affect the game at all.”
Breitner: “Berlin is up there with Wembley or the Bernabeu”
Paul Breitner would rather not have handed over the trophy and he says that the defeat in the semi-finals against Dortmund is still having an effect. Or at least a little bit: “And especially with the slim chances of reaching another final in Berlin. Berlin is up there with Wembley or the Bernabeu.”
Breitner looked back on winning the cup for the first time in 1971 in an interview: “I was 19. We won the cup on the Saturday with ten men against Köln after extra time, I got married on the Sunday, I met up with the national team on Monday and then made my first cap on the Tuesday.”
Finale for Klopp
Dortmund and Wolfsburg will go head-to-head in the final in two weeks time but first they go up against each other in the Bundesliga at the weekend. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season,” said BVB chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke, “but things aren’t looking too bad now from a results point of view.” The final in Berlin will be Jürgen Klopp’s final game as BVB manager. “The hardest times are behind us and it will be an emotional time because after that it will all be over. Jürgen can inspire his team to perform beyond their capabilities. It’s the perfect way to sign off.”
Midfielder Nuri Sahin, who is currently injured, is hoping that his manager can sign off with the title: “We’ve had and are having a unique time. We would have liked to have won the treble but unfortunately that’s no longer possible. The DFB Cup would be a brilliant ending.”
It’s a similar situation at Wolfsburg in terms of their season. Wolfsburg are back among the top sides and have already qualified for the Champions League. “We are very happy as so far it has been an amazing season. There is nothing to complain about, even if we hadn’t made the final,” said sporting director Klaus Allofs. For Wolfsburg keeper and captain Diego Benaglio the final is a “career highlight, which has huge importance for both the club and the city.” The Switzerland international has been in reached the semi-finals on five occasions but this will be his first time in the final in Berlin. And he believes that “we (Wolfsburg) have a good chance.”
