Bielefeld 'ready to go to Berlin' Cup final over holders Lverkusen
Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat celebrates after the German DFB Cup quarter final soccer match between Arminia Bielefeld and Werder Bremen at Schueco Arena. Friso Gentsch/dpa
Arminia Bielefeld are not finished yet in their giant killing German Cup campaign as the third division side wants to reach the final for the first time for which they need to beat defending champions Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
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Bielefeld knocked out second tier Hanover in the first round before reaching the semi-finals by ousting Bundesliga sides Union Berlin, Freiburg and Werder Bremen.
Being below the top two divisions they have home advantage again when they face Leverkusen, and coach Mitch Kniat is confident they can make it to the May 24 final in Berlin.
"We said from the outset that we want to write our own story. The chapter is not over. And I expect that it isn't over on Tuesday but that we can write another page," Kniat told reporters on Monday.
"Everyone is ready to go to Berlin. We have to invest everything for that. It is also clear that a lot must go our way."
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Kniat said that his players must show courage and confidence against the reigning Bundesliga and Cup champions.
"If you go into a match like this with fear then you better stay at home. Then tell the coach that this game isn't for you," he said.
"We are going into it as liverish and greedy as in the last games," Kniat added.
Bielefeld are bidding to become the fourth team from the third tier to reach the Cup final, following Hertha Berlin's reserves in 2003, Energie Cottbus in 1997 and Union Berlin in 2001. All three then lost the final.
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