Rudi Völler
May 29, 2009
DW-TV: Is there anyone on the planet who calls you by your full name "Rudolf"?
Rudi Völler: My mother. My mother thinks it's important, but then again...I mean who today would name their son Rudolf? But things were different then.
You've competed in all the big matches: a World Cup final, a European Championship final, the Champions League, but not in a German Cup final.
You're right. That's missing from my collection. I was in the semi-finals twice I think with Bremen but we never made it. So I'm glad – both for me and the club – that we're taking part in this true highlight. In the past ten years, the final in Berlin has become something really special. It's become just like in England, with the FA Cup in Wembley. It's a huge triumph we earned in the Cup competition.
You're in management at Leverkusen but played as a striker for Bremen in the 1980s. Aren't you a bit torn?
No, not at all. The two things aren't connected. I had a great five years in Bremen during the 80s. I wish Bremen all the best for next season, but not on Saturday. That's different. We want to win the match of course.
Do Leverkusen and Bremen both deserve to be there?
We definitely do. We never had a real home match because our games were played on a neutral ground. And in the quarter-finals, we beat the best team in Germany – on neutral grounds in Düsseldorf. Bayern Munich are the best team in Germany. They have the best squad. And we booted them out – in relatively convincing fashion. That's why we deserve to be in the final. As for Bremen, they won that semi-final in Hamburg.
…on penalties....
Okay on penalties, but that doesn't matter. They deserve to be there too.
Leverkusen's league form was disappointing, just like Bremen's. Do you see parallels?
Both teams definitely under-performed in the league. Werder Bremen is a club with Champions League ambitions. That was certainly their goal. Ours was a spot in the UEFA Cup, or fifth place. Neither team achieved what they wanted so there are parallels.
If you win the Cup, can you nonetheless say the season was a success?
Yes, but only if we win on Saturday. If we don't , no matter how the game goes, then for me it won't be a successful season. There's no getting around it.
Leverkusen haven't won a title in 16 years – their last was the German Cup in 1993. But the team has never beaten Bremen in the competition.
Bremen's Thomas Schaaf is a very experienced coach, while your coach Bruno Labbadia is in his first season in the top flight.
My only answer is Thomas Schaaf won the Cup in his first season. That speaks volumes.
What kind of guys are they?
Tough to say. Thomas Schaaf is definitely the quieter coach who doesn't get upset when things don't work out. Thomas has done a great job and has made a career for himself in Bremen. Bruno has a great career ahead of him. Especially in the first half of the season, he showed what he could do with our team. We led the league twice and played great, attractive football. Unfortunately, we then fell apart.
Consistency has been Leverkusen's problem for years. They tended to start well and usually looked good on the pitch, but they failed to get the crucial results. "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" say the team's critics. In recent years, Leverkusen has come away disappointed from the big games, in the Bundesliga, the Champions League or the Cup final.
I'm a realist in this respect. The only thing that counts is where you are now, and I know that in a Cup final against Bremen, your form on that day is decisive. Whoever has a better day, gets off to the better start and handles the pressure better will win. It's fifty-fifty – both teams have an equal chance. The one thing isn't related to the other.
What are your pre-game expectations. Do you think both teams will come out attacking, or will they try to avoid conceding an early goal.
Normally, these are two teams that push the ball up the pitch. Bremen definitely, and we usually do too. We always feel better pushing forward. Under normal circumstances, you can expect an attractive match. We'll have to see how the first few minutes go. But I can't imagine, with the talent that both coaches have at their disposal, that they'll only try to defend. I'm looking forward to it.
And finally, how about a prediction?
2:1 for Bayer Leverkusen.