Werkself ready for DFB Pokal!!!

With construction of the new home ongoing, Werkself’s DFB Pokal match against Energie Cottbus will be held in Düsseldorf. This is the first time the clubs have met in the DFB and although Cottbus is fighting to avoid relegation in league play the have come through to the final sixteen with 3-0 wins defeats over Tennis Borussia Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Simon Rolfes spoke of the match on the clubs official web-site:

Simon, the first home game at the LTU arena is coming up. To be honest: It must feel funny to play at home in another city?

Simon Rolfes: Yes, there’s obviously a need to make some adjustments. But I know about that from my time at Aachen when we played our UEFA Cup games in Cologne. It feels funny at first but it can be very interesting and exciting if you approach it in the right way.

Cottbus in the Cup: That’s not necessarily the opponent you might have wanted.

Simon Rolfes: No, that’s exactly the right sort of opposition. After the last home game before the winter break we’ve got a chance to put things right. We didn’t play very well for much of the game against Cottbus in December.Especially after carving out a 1-0 lead and then throwing the lead away at the end. Now it’s time for us to show that we can up our game and win against teams like Cottbus.

What have you learnt from the last time the two sides met?

Simon Rolfes: Obviously, we’ll analyse the 1-1 draw from before Christmas again. I do think that Cottbus will play in a similar way in Düsseldorf as they did in Leverkusen. But this time we’ll find the means to open them up.

Bayer 04 are at home in the Cup for the first time in six years and in 14 DFB Cup ties and – with due respect to Cottbus – a great chance to progress to the quarter finals. But every player needs to be fully motivated!?

Simon Rolfes: That’s what we’re doing as the DFB Cup is very important for us as it is the only competition we’re involved in outside the Bundesliga. In previous seasons we’ve always had the UEFA Cup. So our motivation to progress is incredibly high. Our expectations and aims are clear: We want to get through to the next round. Nothing less will do.

Category: Bayer Leverkusen Team News

Tags: Bayer Leverkusen Team News

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