By Katja Sponholz and Carsten Lappe, dpa I Monday, March 11, 2024
BORUSSIA – Third division Saarbrücken aim to continue their remarkable run in the German Cup in a rearranged quarter-final against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Tuesday.
Saarbrücken reached the last eight by sensationally ousting record competition winners Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt.
This has led to big expectations but coach Rüdiger Ziehl on Monday dismissed suggestions that victory against Gladbach was a foregone conclusion “absolute nonsense,” saying that everything has to come together again for victory.
He however added that “Gladbach have a lot to lose, and we have a lot to win.
“We are in a hunter position. And we have shown against Bayern and Frankfurt that we can hunt well,” Ziehl said.
The match was originally scheduled for February 7 but cancelled shortly before kick-off due to a water-logged pitch. The quality of the Saarbrücken pitch, which has no drainage system, has frequently been discussed.
Ziehl said that the pitch conditions are not ideal but “firmly believes that we can play.”
Gladbach coach Gerardo Seoane for his part insisted on Monday that “we have the ambition to reach the next round” and that the pitch condition must be no factor for his players.
“We must adapt, regardless how the pitch is,” Seoane said. “From what I have seen the pitch is playable. We will see on site in what kind of condition it is.”
Seoane said they have taken notice of Saarbrücken’s wins over Bayern and Frankfurt and “are warned,” but he added that “we are focussing on our own performance.”
Gladbach have somewhat disappointed in the Bundesliga where they are placed 12th but the Cup could offer a path towards silverware they have not earned since winning the competition for a third time in 1995.
Saarbrücken, for their part, gained fame when they became the to date only fourth tier side to reach the semi-finals four years ago.
The winner faces second-division Kaiserslautern in an April 2 semi-final.
If Gladbach win on Tuesday the game will be in Kaiserslautern, but Saarbrücken will be hosts again if they advance because all teams below the second division get automatic home field advantage.
The other semi-final on April 3 is between Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in all their 36 matches to date this season, and second division Fortuna Düsseldorf. The final is on May 25 in Berlin.
