Back
8.06.2020DFB-Pokal

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

Regensburg, Köln, Karlsruhe and Düsseldorf: FC Saarbrücken have knocked out some big clubs on their way to the DFB Cup semi-finals. Tomorrow (kick-off: 20.30 CET/live on ARD and Sky), Bayer 04 are in the last four away to the Regional League club who have recently had confirmation of their promotion to the third division after the season ended early. Bayer04.de interviewed Marcus Mann (36), sporting director of the first fourth division club ever to be in the DFB Cup semi-finals.
crop_imago0044216603h.jpg

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.

 

crop_imago46883486h.jpg
Mann praises: The tactics chosen by Saarbrücken’s coach Lukas Kwasniok (photo) and his predecessor Dirk Lottner in all four cup games “worked a treat.”

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.

imago0046928417h.jpg
The Saarbrücken team celebrate with the fans after the quarter-final win (7-6 on penalties) against Fortuna Düsseldorf.

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.

Related News

Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.07.2025

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn's July highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Fanwelt
Fans - 30.06.2025

Fanwelt closed on 30 June

To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.

Show more
Julie Jorde
Women - 28.06.2025

Julie Jorde makes permanent move to Brøndby IF

The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 28.06.2025

Not the first time at the BayArena: Profile of Abdoulaye Faye

It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.

Show more
Abdoulaye Faye wechselt zu Bayer 04 | Erstes Interview
Werkself-TV - 27.06.2025

Faye: ‘Bayer 04 are the best team for my development’

Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.

Show more