DFB Cup: “Our dream”: Bielefeld ready for next trophy fairy tale

Before starting the new cup season, the Bielefeld lovingly think of their sensational final. “The memories are of course there and they motivate us to experience it again,” said Arminia coach Mitch Kniat.

The signs of a new cup surprise in the first round on Friday evening (8:45 p.m./Sky and ZDF) against Bundesliga club Werder Bremen are not bad. Bielefeld is currently an undefeated league leader of the 2nd league as a climber, competes against an opponent that is not well -rehearsed at home – and, as in the previous season, wants to cause a sensation as a favorite fright.

“Everyone here has learned to love the cup competition. It remains our dream to get very, very,” said Kniat. In the past season there was only a 2: 4 final defeat against VfB Stuttgart in the final in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

Big hype around the Arminia

For weeks, the club has been supported by a wave of euphoria, which was created by the DFB Cup final, the sovereign ascent as a third division champion and the subsequent Westfalen Cup success against Sportfreunde Lotte. There is a big hype around the Arminia: membership numbers and season ticket sales are at a record level. “This wave continues to this day. I hope it stays that way for a long time,” said Kniat.

Nevertheless, the roles are clearly distributed against Bremen in front of the cup duel. “As a climber in the 2nd league, we are against a Bundesliga club of the outsiders,” emphasized Kniat. But that was the case in the previous season – and then Werder surprisingly lost the quarter -finals with 1: 2 with the then third division club Bielefeld.

“I didn’t talk much about this game with the players,” said Bremen’s new coach Horst Steffen with a wink.

Four Bundesliga clubs thrown out of the trophy

On his way to the final in Berlin, Bielefeld had not only beaten the Bremen, but also Union Berlin, SC Freiburg and defending champion Bayer Leverkusen from the Bundesliga. “Once you have reached the final, you know what you do for all,” said Kniat.

The most recent successes of his team make the 39-year-old appear confidently: “We will blow everything in again. And then I am sure that we can get a round.”

Dream start in the new season

In 13 league games across the season, Bielefeld made a perfect start in the 2nd league: 5: 1 against the promotion candidate Fortuna Düsseldorf and 2-0 at Bundesliga relegated Holstein Kiel.

In order for the euphoria to continue, the previous year’s finalist for the cup game against Bremen has a clear plan. “We have to use the advantage that we have already played two competitive games – Werder didn’t have one yet,” said Kniat before the home game.

For the green-whites, it is not only a cold start, but also the first competitive game under New coach Steffen. He still knows Kniat and his game philosophy from third division times when he himself was responsible in Elversberg and Kniat in Verl as a trainer.

Trainer: “Young, hungry guy”

As with the sensational cup run in the previous season, the known virtues should again lead to success. “We have to bring our intensive style of play onto the pitch and stress the opponent, also be brave in their own possession,” Kniat stated the direction: “We just have young, hungry guys who are hardworking and listening. They can and should just step on the gas.”