There's a great deal of excitement for SpVgg Unterhaching of the Regionalliga, who will play Champions League side Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup on 15th or 16th December. The ties were drawn last night by singer Vanessa Mai.
"It's an almost impossible task," said Unterhaching manager Claus Schromm in an interview with DFB.de: "But we're still looking forward to it and want to make a big event of the clash. It'll be a great way to end the year, shortly before Christmas."
DFB.de: Mr Schromm, how did you experience the draw?
Claus Schromm: 1st November is a serious public holiday here in Bavaria. I was spending the day with my family, where we followed the draw on TV. It's a great draw with a special historical connection.
DFB.de: You're referring to 20th May 2000. Leverkusen went into the final matchday with a three-point advantage over FC Bayern but lost 2-0 in Unterhaching with an own goal from Michael Ballack…
Schromm: …and threw away the title as a result. But that was a long time ago, more than 15 years. People here still obviously speak about it a lot, as results like that stick in the memory.
DFB.de: How do you rate your chances against Leverkusen?
Schromm: We obviously know that it's an almost impossible task for us. Leverkusen are established in the Champions League, we shouldn't forget that in all our excitement. We want to make an event of it. It'll be a great way to end the year, shortly before Christmas. We're really looking forward to it, and we'll have to work overtime between now and then to get ourselves ready for it, but we'll be able to enjoy the game. It's exactly why we all love this competition.
DFB.de: So you don't have any hope of pulling off a shock?
Schromm: Of course we know what kind of games this tournament can throw up. Nobody gave us a chance against Ingolstadt in the first round, but it was their first competitive game of the season and we took full advantage. Against RB Leipzig in the second round, we took the chance to rest a few key players but we made the most of our chances. Now we're in the last 16, having achieved far more than anyone expected of us. Obviously we can dream, but we need to remain realistic.
DFB.de: What has your success thus far meant for the team?
Schromm: It's invaluable experience for our young team, and it's something you can never take away from the boys. They've already learned what it means to be a professional. They want to go a step further. I hope they use this experience for their personal development.
DFB.de: And financially?
Schromm: Obviously we weren't counting on this revenue, but it's extremely important for the team, because it takes some pressure off us. Up until now, we've always relied on ticket sales to stay afloat, but it's not as easy when you're in the Regionalliga, because you don't get such huge attendances so you can't generate as much. However, we can now go through this season without too many concerns.
DFB.de: The team appeared to be benefitting from the momentum of this tournament. They beat Buchbach 4-0 this weekend and rose to fifth place.
Schromm: Yes, that's been a good by-product. The players aren't getting carried away with the hype – quite the opposite, the success has given them momentum and confidence. I get the impression we're on the right path.
DFB.de: Is the aim therefore direct promotion to the 3rd division?
Schromm: No, we're not quite there yet, both on the pitch and financially. Obviously it's our aim, but we can't jump the gun. What you want to achieve is not always what you're capable of, and that applies here. We wish Regensburg the best of luck in their promotion campaign. It'll mean we have one fewer competitor when we try to achieve it in the next few years!
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There's a great deal of excitement for SpVgg Unterhaching of the Regionalliga, who will play Champions League side Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup on 15th or 16th December. The ties were drawn last night by singer Vanessa Mai.
"It's an almost impossible task," said Unterhaching manager Claus Schromm in an interview with DFB.de: "But we're still looking forward to it and want to make a big event of the clash. It'll be a great way to end the year, shortly before Christmas."
DFB.de: Mr Schromm, how did you experience the draw?
Claus Schromm: 1st November is a serious public holiday here in Bavaria. I was spending the day with my family, where we followed the draw on TV. It's a great draw with a special historical connection.
DFB.de: You're referring to 20th May 2000. Leverkusen went into the final matchday with a three-point advantage over FC Bayern but lost 2-0 in Unterhaching with an own goal from Michael Ballack…
Schromm: …and threw away the title as a result. But that was a long time ago, more than 15 years. People here still obviously speak about it a lot, as results like that stick in the memory.
DFB.de: How do you rate your chances against Leverkusen?
Schromm: We obviously know that it's an almost impossible task for us. Leverkusen are established in the Champions League, we shouldn't forget that in all our excitement. We want to make an event of it. It'll be a great way to end the year, shortly before Christmas. We're really looking forward to it, and we'll have to work overtime between now and then to get ourselves ready for it, but we'll be able to enjoy the game. It's exactly why we all love this competition.
DFB.de: So you don't have any hope of pulling off a shock?
Schromm: Of course we know what kind of games this tournament can throw up. Nobody gave us a chance against Ingolstadt in the first round, but it was their first competitive game of the season and we took full advantage. Against RB Leipzig in the second round, we took the chance to rest a few key players but we made the most of our chances. Now we're in the last 16, having achieved far more than anyone expected of us. Obviously we can dream, but we need to remain realistic.
DFB.de: What has your success thus far meant for the team?
Schromm: It's invaluable experience for our young team, and it's something you can never take away from the boys. They've already learned what it means to be a professional. They want to go a step further. I hope they use this experience for their personal development.
DFB.de: And financially?
Schromm: Obviously we weren't counting on this revenue, but it's extremely important for the team, because it takes some pressure off us. Up until now, we've always relied on ticket sales to stay afloat, but it's not as easy when you're in the Regionalliga, because you don't get such huge attendances so you can't generate as much. However, we can now go through this season without too many concerns.
DFB.de: The team appeared to be benefitting from the momentum of this tournament. They beat Buchbach 4-0 this weekend and rose to fifth place.
Schromm: Yes, that's been a good by-product. The players aren't getting carried away with the hype – quite the opposite, the success has given them momentum and confidence. I get the impression we're on the right path.
DFB.de: Is the aim therefore direct promotion to the 3rd division?
Schromm: No, we're not quite there yet, both on the pitch and financially. Obviously it's our aim, but we can't jump the gun. What you want to achieve is not always what you're capable of, and that applies here. We wish Regensburg the best of luck in their promotion campaign. It'll mean we have one fewer competitor when we try to achieve it in the next few years!
