Before the women's cup final: only greed speaks for unity

There was one thing that Niko Arnautis wanted to get rid of in the most important week of his coaching career.

At the end of the press briefing before the DFB Cup final on Wednesday, he directed the conversation to the great enabler in Frankfurt women's football: Siegfried Dietrich.

"Siggi has seen 13 cup finals, unfortunately he will not be with us in this one," said Arnautis, referring to Dietrich's health-related absence and added: "We will play for him too and go one step more for him."

Under the long-time manager of 1. FFC Frankfurt, the team made it into the cup final at the Berlin Olympic Stadium ten times in a row between 1999 and 2008 - seven times the trophy went to the Main. Since the final got its own stage in the Cologne arena, the Hessians were represented there in 2011, 2012 and 2014 (two title wins).

In all 13 final appearances so far, the Frankfurt women were either favorites or at least on par with the final opponent.

This Sunday (4 p.m., live on ARD) they not only appear for the first time under the name Eintracht Frankfurt, but are also a clear underdog for the first time.

Opponent is the star ensemble of the reigning double winner VfL Wolfsburg, which can currently look back on a similarly impressive cup history as the Frankfurt women at the beginning of the millennium.

In the past eight years, the Lower Saxony women have made it to the Cologne final seven times - and have won every time.

"Maybe we burn more"

So what speaks in favor of the SGE against a top-staffed, internationally steeled team with a proven killer instinct at the big finals? Especially since the Hessians only occupy sixth place before the last Bundesliga matchday after a mixed round. “What distinguishes us is our greed for success,” said Arnautis. "Maybe we burn more for this game."

And from the 2: 3 home defeat against VfL in the league last Sunday, the team could "take courage", said the 41-year-old football teacher. After a weak first half after the break, the team noticed that they could also stand up to a well-humored Wolfsburg team. “We showed how it can be done,” says Arnautis. “But of course it is important in Cologne that we function from the start. That we bring our maximum lecture to the square. The women from Wolfsburg have to suffer and feel that we are not coming just to be there, but to win the title. "

After the weak phase last autumn and changes to the schedule due to corona this spring, the SGE was recently in good shape.

But after the last two games there are (narrow) defeats on the result lists again - against Turbine Potsdam and Wolfsburg.

This season there were too often imbalances in the Eintracht game that prevented a better overall result in the league.

In the cup, on the other hand, they were lucky at the draw.

Great attention

On the way to the final it was only against lower class opponents up to the semi-final home game against league rivals SC Freiburg. Participation in the final now offers a great opportunity to give the first season after the merger between FFC and SGE a gold edge - and to create the next trophy in the club's headquarters after the triumph of the Eintracht men in 2018. The cup final is of paramount importance in women's football, because the event in Cologne attracts more attention than the championship decision in the league. Attacker Laura Freilang speaks of an "ultimate highlight".

It has proven that the Eintracht team is talented, enthusiastic and ready to work beyond the limit of exhaustion. “With all our motivation, we mustn't lose our heads,” warns Arnautis. "We want to play with a passionate heart, but also turn our heads on." That Eintracht can deliver a great fight to the Wolfsburg women, you can trust.

Especially since it can muster the firepower of some national players and there is enough illustrative material from the past few years in which the Lower Saxons struggled against nominally weaker final opponents. Last year they were only able to bring down SGS Essen after a 3: 3 after extra time on penalties. "The tension is increasing day by day," said Laura Freilang, who wants to crown a special season for her personally with 17 league goals and successful first performances for the national team.

The nervousness before the biggest game in the career of most Eintracht players has also captured coach Arnautis. Laura Freilang revealed with a smile that the trainer had said to her during the practice sessions this week. “Are you looking forward to it? Are you that excited too? "