Bayern Munich is gearing up for the German Cup final with a clear goal: “We want to bring the trophy home.” The record title winners are heading to Berlin for their first final in six years, brimming with motivation.
“Above all, Bayern hasn’t been to Berlin in a long time. Now we’re here, and we really want to take the trophy home,” said sporting director Christoph Freund on Monday, May 11, during the trophy presentation at the Red Room in Berlin.
On May 23, Bayern will face defending champions Stuttgart at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. The Bavarians last lifted the Cup in 2020. Despite their pedigree, Freund holds great respect for Stuttgart. “It can hardly get more difficult than this. Stuttgart plays high-quality football and shows up in key moments,” he emphasized.
Freund, who hails from Austria, has experienced a cup final in his home country before, but he considers the German final something special. “I was once in Berlin as a spectator. It was Bayern against Dortmund. Everything is on a much bigger scale—it’s a magical night. Without a doubt, it will be a very special evening,” Freund said.
Stuttgart is eager to defend its title. This season, Bayern has already beaten Stuttgart in both the Super Cup and the two Bundesliga matches. “In theory, the roles are clear, but I still think we have some chances,” commented VfB sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, adding, “What we experienced last year, we want to experience again.” Last season, Stuttgart defeated Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in the final.
However, the German champions are a different class of opponent. “Bayern is simply the strongest team in Germany and one of the best in the world, we know that. And that’s how we’re going to approach the match,” said Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor. “We feel like underdogs. But we want to make it difficult for Bayern, and we’ve beaten them before.”