Sportfreunde Lotte have already gone and done it again: after the third tier side overcame SV Werder Bremen 2-1 in the DFB Cup’s first round back in August, Ismail Atalan’s side have managed to stun another Bundesliga team in the second round. After the scores sat at 2-2 with 120 minutes played, Lotte beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-3 on penalties to book their place in the round of 16.
Lotte head coach Atalan spoke to DFB.de after their sensational giant-killing against the Champions League side and how he may plan to celebrate the result. The 36-year old is understandably bristling with anticipation for the next round’s draw, although admitted that he would rather face an SV Sandhausen then record DFB Cup champions Bayern Munich.
DFB.de: Have you found the right words to describe the incredible triumph over Leverkusen, Mr. Atalan?
Ismail Atalan: It is just fantastic. We gave absolutely everything and played as well as we possibly could from the first second to the last. I have to pay huge compliments to my team.
DFB.de: You said an earlier interview with DFB.de that you would not be going for a celebratory beer. Has the win over Leverkusen changed anything on that front?
Atalan: No! (Laughs) I actually ended up going to sleep pretty early because I had to travel to Hennef for a coaching development course. But of course we allow the team to celebrate a bit after a success like that.
DFB.de: Did you give the team a day off or did they still have to come in for training on Wednesday?
Atalan: On Thursday we will start preparation for our match against Fortuna Köln on Saturday. The boys have earned their day off. After such a nerve-wracking and tiring game, every player could do with a bit of a break.
DFB.de: Lotte looked Leverkusen straight in the eye, played more than their fair share in the game and entertained. What was the key to victory?
Atalan: The decisive factor was us staying true to our style of play. We did not let the big name of Leverkusen faze us and played our football as if we were playing any other team, which has given us a lot of success in the Drittliga. We tried to put Leverkusen under pressure at every opportunity and not let them settle into the game. It all worked brilliantly. We could not have implemented our plan much better.
DFB.de: It was also impressive to see your side react twice to going a goal down. From the 79th minute onwards, your team were also playing with ten men.
Atalan: Morale is one of our biggest strengths. We never lost the belief that we could make it to the next round.
DFB.de: Lotte came out on top in the penalty shootout. However, so many penalties were missed. What do you make of that?
Atalan: For me, a penalty shootout comes down to pure luck. In training, we did not do any extra penalty practise than usual. You simply cannot replicate the pressure of a shootout. So I have to have sympathy with both my players and Leverkusen’s. Lots of players had to deal with cramp towards the latter stages and then had to go and take a penalty. It was an incredibly intense and energy-sapping game.
DFB.de: Your goalkeeper Benedikt Fernandez was the hero in the end, saving the decisive spot kick. As an ex-Leverkusen player it was a particularly special game for him.
Atalan: Just like all of my players, Benedikt was fired up for the game. Nevertheless, I am delighted that he put in such a good performance against his former club, where he spent many years in the youth system.
DFB.de: You said after the game that even the bus driver could coach your team. What did you mean by that?
Atalan: laughs I think I was a bit emotional at the time! What I meant to say was that the team are extremely self-sufficient. My side do not need big speeches to be extremely focused and highly motivated. It’s great fun to be able to work with them.
DFB.de: Is there a certain team that you want to face in the quarters?
Atalan: I do not really mind who we play against, we do not have a say in it anyway. After two games against Bundesliga sides, it would not be terrible to play against a smaller opposition as against them, the chances of reaching the quarterfinals is higher. By that I mean, we would rather play against SV Sandhausen than FC Bayern.
DFB.de: Things are also going very well for Lotte in the league – before the game against Fortuna Köln you were in fourth place. How do you rate your season so far?
Atalan: We could not have started the season any better. As a promoted side, who were many people’s favourites to go down, we have 21 points from twelve games and we are three points behind frontrunners MSV Duisberg. But, as a young and inexperienced team, we make too many unnecessary mistakes. We are however learning quickly and correct them immediately – that is also a reason why we are doing so well.
DFB.de: Promotion, a strong start to the season, two wins in the cup against Bundesliga opposition, what are you doing to keep your feet on the ground?
Atalan: It is important to make clear to the players how fast-moving football is - nothing fades more quickly than success in football. Therefore, we have to work hard for renewed success every week - the boys already know that, though, so I am not worried.
DFB.de: Along with the many games in the 3. Liga and the DFB Cup, you are also studying to become a coach. How stressful is that?
Atalan: It is certainly not easy but it is manageable – above all, because studying for it is fun. I am on a very nice course where I have made friends. For example, I am getting on extremely well with Stefan Leitl, FC Ingolstadt’s U23s coach and Volkan Bulut, André Breitenreiter’s former assistant coach at FC Schalke 04.
