‘Cup handover’ at DFB Pokal final: Carro, Hradecky and Ballack in Berlin

The official countdown for the final between the Werkself and FC Kaiserslautern has started with just under two weeks to go before the 81st DFB Pokal final (25 May, 20.00 CEST). At the Cup handover in the Red Town Hall in Berlin, the current holders RB Leipzig handed over the DFB Pokal to the DFB and the City of Berlin on Monday. Representatives of both finalists were present at the event. Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro, captain Lukas Hradecky and Leverkusen’s Pokal ambassador Michael Ballack together with representatives of FC Kaiserslautern talked about the sporting highlight for both finalists rounding off an eventful season for both clubs.

While the Werkself have now gone unbeaten in 50 games this season and are set to play the Europa League final three days before the DFB Pokal final, FC Kaiserslautern avoided relegation from Bundesliga 2 at the weekend.

Carro: "special to back again"

The delegations of both finalists travelled to the capital for the Cup handover on the back of that success. Fernando Carro , Bayer 04 CEO, said at the event in the Berlin Town Hall: “Of course, I’ve followed FC Kaiserslautern’s progress this season. They’ve done brilliantly in the Pokal up to now.”

The Spaniard added: “It’s something special for Bayer 04 to be back again after 2020. And this time we are very happy out fans can be here too. It will be a great Pokal night!” In the 4-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal final in 2020 there were no spectators at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For Bayer 04 this year brings the fifth appearance in the final of the competition with the Werkself winning the DFB Pokal in 1993 with a 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin Amateurs.

Ballack: "great honour to be the Pokal ambassador"

Michael Ballack, DFB Pokal ambassador at Bayer 04, was also present at the Cup handover in Berlin. The former Werkself player and Kaiserslautern’s DFB Pokal ambassador Gerry Ehrmann, currently the youth goalkeeping coach at FCK, played together for the Red Devils at the end of the 1990s.

For Ballack it is “a great honour that Bayer 04 asked me if I wanted to be the Pokal ambassador.” He feels a connection to both FCK and the Werkself “but Bayer Leverkusen is something very special for me.”

Hradecky: "with us, everybody backs each other all the way"

Werkself skipper Lukas Hradecky , who won the DFB Pokal with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018, said in response to a question about 50 games without defeat: “We very much enjoy work every day and the run this season. Now we want to win the last three games and go a whole season without defeat.”

With teammate Matej Kovar playing in goal in every DFB Pokal tie from the second round, Hradecky said: “It’s also part of the secret and our success that every individual player performs and everybody backs each other all the way. And I am also happy for and with Matej if he plays. He’s done really well.”

Dankert to referee DFB Pokal final

The Cup handover also included the presentation of the referee for the DFB Pokal final. FIFA referee Bastian Dankert is in charge of the match this year. The 43-year-old has refereed in the Bundesliga for twelve years. Dankert has previously been the match official at 13 games involving Bayer 04 (six wins, one draw, six defeats), last time in the 2021/22 season.

Ballack and Ehrmann to carry trophy

Ahead of Bastian Dankert starting the 81^st DFB Pokal final, the two DFB Pokal ambassadors Michael Ballack and Gerry Ehrmann will carry the DFB Pokal trophy into the stadium together.