San Francisco Frontiers - 'No chance': Bielefeld embrace underdog tag in German Cup final

Bielefeld won promotion to the second division earlier in May. They are just the fourth club in German Cup history to reach the final from the third division.

Of the 81 times the competition has been played since it was created, only once has a side from outside the top flight lifted the trophy: second-division Hannover in 1992.

"Like in the games before, we have no chance. And we have to take advantage of that," Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat told reporters on Thursday.

Bielefeld beat four top-flight sides on their way to the showpiece event, including defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals.

Their opponents Stuttgart have endured two relegations in the past decade but are among the traditional giants in Germany, winning five league titles and three German Cups.

"We don't just want to have a nice day here, a nice holiday," Kniat said. "We also want to win the game and then grab hold of that beautiful trophy."

Around 100,000 Arminia fans are expected in Berlin, around a third of Bielefeld's total population and well over the allocation of 20,000 tickets per team.

"I don't think anyone in Bielefeld has turned up to work for the past week," Kniat said.

"You see people who have been fans of the club for 50 or 60 years. They're ready for the greatest day of their lives. They filled their tanks and went on their way."

Bielefeld's American captain Mael Corboz, born and raised in Alabama, said his side were given a special send-off by fans and local media before making the trip on Friday.

"Their message was push hard on the gas, stick together, and with a lot of courage you'll make it. And we get that courage from our fans too."

Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness said Bielefeld's league status would not be relevant on the pitch on Saturday.

"I understand the narrative but it's irrelevant for me. We're not playing against a third-division side, we're taking on the cup finalists.

"They've knocked out four Bundesliga sides so it doesn't matter to us which league they're from."

The coach spent the better part of a decade with Hertha Berlin's reserve team during his playing career and was thrilled to be taking part in the festivities in the German capital for the first time.

"You feel the city, it vibrates," Hoeness said. "It becomes infused with the colours of the fans of the teams that take part."

E.Walker--SFF