Third division Arminia Bielefeld has sensationally achieved the final of the DFB Cup. Ex-star Artur Wichniarek now believes in the really big coup, as he reveals T-Online.
Arminia Bielefeld’s incredible cup tour found its preliminary climax on Tuesday evening. The third division team was able to defeat the incumbent title holder Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinals with 2-1 and is now completely surprising in the final of the competition.
Artur Wichniarek also followed the cup sensation. The 48-year-old ran in the Arminia jersey between 1999 and 2003 and in 2006 and 2009, with 45 goals of the club in the Bundesliga. In conversation with T-Online, “King Artur” is now looking at the reasons for the Bielefeld miracle-and explains why he thinks the cup victory is possible.
T-Online: Mr. Wichniarek, Arminia Bielefeld sensationally made the move into the cup final perfect. How and where did you follow the game yesterday?
Artur Wichniarek: I watched the game at home with my family on TV. Before the game, it was hardly believed that Bielefeld could have a chance against Leverkusen. This is still the team of the hour in Germany, technically brilliant.
Nevertheless, Bielefeld did it. How is that possible?
The Arminia made it very difficult for Leverkusen, was very brave. It was a real cup fight. Bielefeld hoped for such a game – and Leverkusen participated. And then that can surprisingly work.
To what extent did the atmosphere in the Schücoarena, also called Bielefeld Alm, play a role?
In my times we always won surprisingly against strong opponents at home – sometimes against Bayern Munich. If the cup games had taken place away this season, it would have been much more difficult for Bielefeld. But with this stadium and these fans in the back you just feel more comfortable as an Arminia player, that’s the advantage. As a small team, you always hope that you will be underestimated. These elements have brought success. But you shouldn’t forget one thing either.
Arminia played well yesterday, even with the ball, showed great counterpressing. You didn’t see a two-class difference across the game between Bielefeld and Leverkusen.
After the game, all dams broke. How did you notice the emotions with the final whistle?
That was a feeling explosion among players and fans. Before the game, many Bielefeld supporters probably hoped for the final, but did not really believe that it is possible. At the weekend, this team played 2-2 against the second representation of Hannover 96 in the 3rd division and a few days later it beats the reigning cup winner Bayer Leverkusen. That is great. Only football can write such stories. The football fairy tale is in Bielefeld this time.
They themselves almost reached the cup endgame with Bielefeld.
That was in the 2005/2006 season. We lost 0-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the semifinals. You are so close to the final on such an evening and at the same time so far.
Now the Arminia is actually going to Berlin. Isn’t it a disadvantage not to play on the Alm this time?
No, that’s not. For this one game you don’t need to have the alpine pasture in your back. The incredible atmosphere of a cup final is enough motivation. It doesn’t matter whether it will be against Stuttgart or Leipzig in the end: this day will go down in the history of Arminia Bielefeld.
