Road to #B04RLIN: ‘Don't need a miracle, just a good day'

Leverkusen mayor crosses his fingers

The Werkself are sure of great support on Saturday night, 4 July. There is also prominent support from Leverkusen's mayor Uwe Rickrath. "The final is a unique, great event. I'm very proud of the team and I'm crossing my fingers for them. Winning the cup would make the history of Leverkusen even greater and that would be fantastic," said the politician. He will be watching the game "in a pub with a big screen along with the fans – there where the heart of Leverkusen is beating." And, of course, at a safe distance.

The kids at the Theodor Fontane primary school in Leverkusen are also getting behind the Werkself. With motivation like that, nothing can really go wrong! Have a look for yourselves:

Hradecky: "It will be a mental thing"

In a press conference on Tuesday morning, Lukas Hradecky focused on the opposition and looked back at the two league games played this season: "We played a good game in Munich and worked well in defence. In contrast, we were too open in the return match at home. It was – also for me personally – not a good day," recalled the Finn. "But we need that on Saturday! We don't need a miracle, just a good day. Perhaps we're the underdogs but we are in with a chance. Above all it will be a mental thing." More from our number one will be available on Wednesday here at bayer04.de.

Player cutouts in great demand

75 life-size player cutouts of Bayer 04 players were distributed around Leverkusen on Monday, 29 June, with Kai Havertz and Lucas Alario on Bismarckstraße and Jonathan Tah at Schloss Morsbroich. This event has gone down very well with Werkself fans. The cutouts are apparently in such demand that they have gained feet overnight and will probably be providing company on Saturday in living rooms occupied by black and red supporters.

Werkself in away dressing room

Fun fact: Although Bayer 04 were actually named as the home team at the DFB Cup, the Werkself have been allocated the away dressing room for Saturday as announced by the German Football Association (DFB). The players of Bayern Munich will get ready in the home dressing room. The trophy presentation at the 77th cup final will be made by DFB president Fritz Keller and general secretary Friedrich Curtius. Around 700 people will be at the venue, working in and around the stadium, including Germany coach Joachim Löw and DFB director Oliver Bierhoff.

‘19:04 – Die Show’ – RYdlewicz Interview

What's been happening in and around Leverkusen will be covered in detail in the cup final show on YouTube and Facebook – of course, as the name of the show reveals at 19.04 CET. The former Bayer 04 player and cup winner René Rydlewicz will recall the cup win of 1993 and also talk about his current activity as U20 national coach. In addition, Julian Baumgartlinger, Daley Sinkgraven and Co. will reveal how much they will miss the fans in Berlin. Tune in!

Happy Birthday, Terry Peters

He has not had a lot of time to celebrate today as the second training session of the week was being held in the run-up to the game against Bayern. The Werkself will definitely have provided a little serenade – and Bayer 04 congratulate fitness coach Terry Peters on his 34th birthday. The players can give him the biggest present belatedly on Saturday…