For FC Carl Zeiss Jena, it is the biggest match in the club’s young history. On 19th August (20:45 CEST) Bayern München host the fourth-tier side in the first round of the DFB Cup. For Jena's new head coach Mark Zimmermann, it is a special challenge in many respects.
In an interview with DFB.de, the 44-year-old speaks about his past with Bayern and his hopes of causing a shock.
DFB.de: Mr Zimmermann, what is the atmosphere like before the big game against Bayern München?
Mark Zimmermann: Really good. We don’t fear Bayern. Much the opposite, we are looking forward to this huge challenge. For many of us, it is a unique opportunity to experience something like this. We’ve got to enjoy it. But we also don’t see this fixture as a friendly. We want to sell ourselves as best we can. We’ll see what’s possible.
DFB.de: Last year Carl Zeiss Jena knocked out Hamburg SV. Are you dreaming of a similar giant killing?
Zimmermann: I don’t believe you can compare Hamburg and Bayern in this case. Our chances of getting through are pretty much zero, so we are under no illusions. But we want to do everything in our power. We’ll see what happens in the end.
DFB.de: Carl Zeiss Jena have already made headlines a few times in the DFB Cup, for example in 2008 with when they made it to the semi-finals.
Zimmermann: It’s true that this club has pulled off some shock results in this incredible competition. On the other hand that should also make us think; why is this team able to come out on top in these fixtures? And why can they not always replicate that in the league? Our duties in the Regionalliga are much more important for us. Everything else is a nice bonus. We must not make the mistake of only concentrating on the match against Bayern.
DFB.de: Is that not easier said than done?
Zimmermann: Of course it’s completely normal that all the attention is focused on a fixture like this one. And that’s also how it should be. Sometimes it feels like nothing else is being talked about in the city and the region as a whole. On the one hand that’s a good thing, because it’s an opportunity for us once again to showcase ourselves nationwide. On the other hand everything has to stay normal.
DFB.de: How is the team preparing for the game?
Zimmermann: I don't have to say much about their individual players. Everyone knows the guys from the television. We want to be brave and to show that we have nothing to hide. If you go in to the game with fear, you’ve already lost before it’s even begun. Respect is needed, but nothing else.
DFB.de: You yourself already played against Bayern München with Jena in the DFB Cup once before...
Zimmermann: But that was several years ago. I think it was in 1993, and it was Jena’s second team at the time. We lost 2-0. For me personally it was one of the highlights of my career. And today I still look back at that game. That is exactly what I told the players: matches against Bayern München really are something special. You have to enjoy it, but you also have to take it seriously. We don’t just want to have an exciting afternoon and to be good hosts; we also want to challenge Bayern München.
[mmc/sz]
For FC Carl Zeiss Jena, it is the biggest match in the club’s young history. On 19th August (20:45 CEST) Bayern München host the fourth-tier side in the first round of the DFB Cup. For Jena's new head coach Mark Zimmermann, it is a special challenge in many respects.
In an interview with DFB.de, the 44-year-old speaks about his past with Bayern and his hopes of causing a shock.
DFB.de: Mr Zimmermann, what is the atmosphere like before the big game against Bayern München?
Mark Zimmermann: Really good. We don’t fear Bayern. Much the opposite, we are looking forward to this huge challenge. For many of us, it is a unique opportunity to experience something like this. We’ve got to enjoy it. But we also don’t see this fixture as a friendly. We want to sell ourselves as best we can. We’ll see what’s possible.
DFB.de: Last year Carl Zeiss Jena knocked out Hamburg SV. Are you dreaming of a similar giant killing?
Zimmermann: I don’t believe you can compare Hamburg and Bayern in this case. Our chances of getting through are pretty much zero, so we are under no illusions. But we want to do everything in our power. We’ll see what happens in the end.
DFB.de: Carl Zeiss Jena have already made headlines a few times in the DFB Cup, for example in 2008 with when they made it to the semi-finals.
Zimmermann: It’s true that this club has pulled off some shock results in this incredible competition. On the other hand that should also make us think; why is this team able to come out on top in these fixtures? And why can they not always replicate that in the league? Our duties in the Regionalliga are much more important for us. Everything else is a nice bonus. We must not make the mistake of only concentrating on the match against Bayern.
DFB.de: Is that not easier said than done?
Zimmermann: Of course it’s completely normal that all the attention is focused on a fixture like this one. And that’s also how it should be. Sometimes it feels like nothing else is being talked about in the city and the region as a whole. On the one hand that’s a good thing, because it’s an opportunity for us once again to showcase ourselves nationwide. On the other hand everything has to stay normal.
DFB.de: How is the team preparing for the game?
Zimmermann: I don't have to say much about their individual players. Everyone knows the guys from the television. We want to be brave and to show that we have nothing to hide. If you go in to the game with fear, you’ve already lost before it’s even begun. Respect is needed, but nothing else.
DFB.de: You yourself already played against Bayern München with Jena in the DFB Cup once before...
Zimmermann: But that was several years ago. I think it was in 1993, and it was Jena’s second team at the time. We lost 2-0. For me personally it was one of the highlights of my career. And today I still look back at that game. That is exactly what I told the players: matches against Bayern München really are something special. You have to enjoy it, but you also have to take it seriously. We don’t just want to have an exciting afternoon and to be good hosts; we also want to challenge Bayern München.
