Updated on 05/22/2022 at 09:36
- At RB Leipzig, the first title win in the club’s history is followed by a big break.
- Coach Tedesco gets the first beer shower in the press room.
- With regard to the support of the fans, the Freiburg coach has one wish that is even more important to him than the trophy.
The players ran away with pride RB Leipzig in front of the fan curve and presented their supporters with the trophy they had won. 13 years after the club was founded, the Saxons have won their longed-for first title – for the trainer there was still the first beer shower in the press room.
“Great joy” and “great relief” felt Coach Domenico Tedesco after Victory on penalties against SC Freiburg in the DFB Cup final on Saturday in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. Outnumbered, the people of Leipzig had braced themselves against the imminent third final defeat within four years – and after a fighting performance from the point then also showed strong nerves.
“It’s an incredibly beautiful moment,” said Bundesliga captain Péter Gulácsi. The goalkeeper was there in 2019 and 2021 when RB played in the finals against the FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund lost. This time too it looked like a disappointment for RB after Maximilian Eggestein (19th minute) and the red card against Marcel Halstenberg (57th, emergency brake).
Man has to be resuscitated shortly after the game
But then Christopher Nkunku (76th) scored to equalize. “The team spirit that we showed today was exceptional,” said Gulácsi. In the penalty shoot-out, everyone from Leipzig converted safely, while Christian Günter and Ermedin Demirovic from Freiburg missed out.
The Saxons’ jubilation was interrupted when a man had to be resuscitated shortly after the game near the photographer’s stand. There was a spooky atmosphere in the wide circle for almost 20 minutes before the cautious all-clear followed: the patient was “stable,” announced the stadium announcer. An ambulance took him out of the stadium to applause from the spectators – the celebrations rolled on again.
“Get well soon for the person, we didn’t see who it was,” Gulácsi said. “It overshadows everything a bit, but we’re really looking forward to the cup, for the city, our club and our fans.” The people of Leipzig had to take a lot of criticism from the active fan scene again, especially in the days before the final, because of their origin story with sponsor Red Bull in the back.
But now “the focus of a really great party” applies, emphasized club boss Oliver Mintzlaff on Sky. After the entry in the city’s golden book in the old town hall, the cup winner drives an open truck to the festival grounds in front of Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena this Sunday.
Streich: “I’d be happy to do without a cup win”
Coach Tedesco, who was showered with beer by his players at the subsequent press conference, jokingly announced revenge. At the night party, the 36-year-old wanted to drink “a glass of red wine in the corner” first.
A big celebration is also in on Sunday evening Freiburg at. His team played an “incredibly great season”, praised the coach Christian Streich. The fact that it was not enough to win the first cup after missing the Champions League qualification would probably “hurt brutally” on Sunday and “even more” on Monday, the 56-year-old coach predicted. On Saturday evening, however, pride prevailed.
Streich seemed downright flattened by the support of the SC fans, who cheered their team and coach for minutes after the final whistle and had celebrated all day beforehand.
“It was so great with the people, everything that happened here,” said Streich. “How the fans behaved in the city – 30,000 and totally peaceful. If we could keep that in this club, that would be my greatest wish. I’m happy to forgo a cup win, even if it’s difficult for me.” (dpa/fte)
Teaser picture: © Tom Weller/dpa
