The DFB Cup has been in Berlin since Monday afternoon. Two weeks before the final in the Olympic Stadium between Bayer Leverkusen and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the trophy was officially handed over to the capital in the Red City Hall in the presence of Berlin Senator for the Interior and Sport, Iris Spranger (SPD), and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and the DFB.
Handover of the cup: Bernd Neuendorf (right) with the Leipzig representative Perry Braut and Iris Spranger, Senator for the Interior and Sport from Berlin. picture alliance/dpa
Before the official event, Lukas Hradecky treated himself to another Berlin specialty. The captain of Bayer Leverkusen enjoyed a kebab in a snack bar not far from the town hall in Berlin-Mitte.
In the town hall, the goalkeeper of the new German champions sat in the front row and saw how Perry Braut, ex-Bundesliga goalkeeper (Jena, Nuremberg, Rostock) and cup ambassador for RB, had to give up the cup after two consecutive victories for Leipzig . Two weeks before the cup final, Hradecky came to the capital together with CEO Fernando Carro and Bayer’s cup ambassador, Michael Ballack, to get in the mood for the final on May 25th. Leverkusen go into this as heavy favorites after their splendid season so far. “You have nothing to lose, you have to have respect for that,” says Hradecky, referring to Kaiserslautern, “and we have that too.” According to the 34-year-old, always keeping full focus on the respective opponents and not letting up is “the secret to the number 50” – for the 50 competitive games in which Leverkusen is now undefeated.
Hradecky and his colleagues absolutely want to maintain this series in the remaining three competitive games – in the league against Augsburg, in the Europa League final against Atalanta Bergamo and in the cup final. “If we are so close, it would be a real shame if it didn’t work out,” emphasizes the Finnish keeper, who already triumphed with Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin in 2018 (3-1 against Bayern Munich).
Dankert whistles – FCK with special jersey
Before a possible Leverkusen triumph in 2024, there are at least 90 minutes against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, which, by the way, will be led by referee Bastian Dankert. In the Palatinate they are looking forward to their first final appearance since 2003 (1:3 against Bayern Munich). Especially since coach Friedhelm Funkel’s team secured their place in the league on the last 33rd second division matchday. “An incredibly difficult task” awaits FCK captain Jean Zimmer, who, like managing director Thomas Hengen and former goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach Gerry Ehrmann, represented the colors of the outsider on Monday. But the people of the Palatinate are still confident. “We generally performed very solidly in the cup games,” says Zimmer, and Hengen also emphasizes: “A lot of things are possible in football. You just have to believe in it and give it your all.” The FCK came up with something special for the final: a special jersey in which the silhouette of Andreas Brehme, who died on February 20th, is woven into it.
One of the things that gives former defensive player Hengen (224 Bundesliga games for FCK, Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg) hope for his first cup win since 1996 is that Leverkusen played the Europa League final in Dublin three days earlier. “I hope that they have beer showers three days beforehand, celebrate and have a long night, so that they might not go into the final in Berlin at 100 percent.” However, Hradecky gives Hengen and the Palatinate team little hope that Bayer will celebrate too hard if they win the final in Dublin. “I will behave. The celebrations will be adjusted – if they come at all.”
2024-05-13 14:50:55
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