FCS sporting director Mann: ‘Now it’s our bonus match’

Mr Mann, FCS were a massive hit across Germany with the wins in the cup. Do you think the club is now perceived differently compared with the 2019/20 season?
We’ve definitely done some positive self-promotion this season. People do see us differently. We’ve noticed that, in part, from increased media interest from all over the country.

How do you explain this incredible success in the cup? What’s special about the current Saarbrücken team?
There are several factors: On the one hand, we have a certain quality on the pitch – even if you can’t compare that to Leverkusen’s – and they are certainly not a typical Regional League team. Also, we’ve surpassed ourselves in the games in Völklingen with our fans getting behind us and we played opponents like Regensburg and Köln at a good time for us when they were having a few problems in the league. But, all in all, we didn’t feel in any of the four games that we didn’t deserve to go through.

And what role did the coaches play? It was definitely a brave decision to part company with Dirk Lottner in December when the team was top of the table in the Regional League and in the Round of 16 in the DFB Cup and opt instead for Lukas Kwasniok.
The coach always plays a crucial role in any team’s success – and that was the same with us in the DFB Cup. The tactics chosen by the respective coaches worked a treat in all four games.

94 days separate the last match before the coronavirus pandemic and the semi-final against Bayer 04. How much of a disadvantage is that for the underdogs?
We’ve joked about Leverkusen not being able to watch us (he laughs). We returned to full training a couple of weeks ago, have worked intensively and played a number of internal games. But the fact we don’t have the run of matches is definitely a disadvantage; you just can’t get that competitive mode in training. We have to come to terms with circumstances and we’re far away from complaining about it. We’re just happy to be playing the game and want to compensate for the limited preparation with other qualities.

The team, coaches and staff moved into the quarantine hotel in Saarbrücken on Wednesday. What does the build-up to the semi-final look like?
We’re in the fortunate position that our president (Hartmut Ostermann, ed.) owns two hotels in Saarbrücken. One of them was opened up for us. We’re on our own there and can therefore use the local facilities. We’ve been commuting between the training ground and quarantine hotel since Wednesday. The coaches didn’t use the video analysis in recent weeks and instead put it back to the days in the hotel to make better use of time.

One big plus point in your previous cup ties this season has been the support of the fans that has turned the Hermann Neuberger Stadium in Völklingen into a lion’s den. How do you want to compensate for that? How can you help the team?
Our fans created a great cup atmosphere in the previous rounds. Now they’re sending us brilliant video messages and much more. Given the current circumstances, they are really doing everything for the team. We’ll have a lot of support from in front of the TV during the game.

In the middle of preparations for the semi-final you were promoted to the third division. Does that success provide an additional boost for the semi-final?
This decision was in the offing but we could only be certain when it was announced. It’s a weight off all our minds. Promotion was primary target this season. The preparations are easier now as we can completely focus on our bonus match, the semi-final.

How do you think the game will turn out on Tuesday? How can you beat Leverkusen?
We are aware we’re playing one of the top five teams in Germany and know the quality we’ll face. We have a slight chance but it was the same in the previous rounds – and we caused upsets in spite of that. With the new circumstances and the high quality of Leverkusen, our chances have perhaps fallen even further. But we’ll put up a fight and try to produce the best display we can.

There’s been a placard at the training ground for weeks with the following words: ‘Rather unsavoury than nothing’ – to the final at the fourth attempt.” That doesn’t sound like a rank outsider. Do you have to go out on a limb to spring a surprise?
To make it clear from the start: We’re not a set of kickers but we try to play good and attractive football. But we won’t be able to compete on equal terms on Tuesday. We’ll have show different qualities. The players will have to go beyond their limits – and then we might be able to hurt them. We have the chance to write another chapter in our great history. We’ll do all we can.