Surprise in the round of 16: The cup party continues: “Everything is possible” for Arminia

Unlike their fans, the Bielefeld cup heroes did not want to speak explicitly about the final in Berlin. How great the trust in one’s own strength is became clear after the next football party on the mountain pasture. “Anything is possible,” said goalscorer Louis Oppie in the catacombs of the traditional stadium.

3:1 against SC Freiburg, 2:0 against 1. FC Union Berlin and Hannover 96: Bielefeld have already thrown out two Bundesliga teams and a top second division team. When the draw for the quarter-finals takes place on December 15th, they are the only third division team in the draw and will definitely have home advantage. “It doesn’t matter who comes. Evenings like this here on the mountain pasture are just amazing. You have to enjoy them,” said Oppie.

Coach Kniat: Victory “not a lie”

Egged on by their fans in the narrow stadium, which was sold out with 26,311 spectators, the Arminen impressed not only with their high level of commitment and fighting spirit. Bielefeld played really good football and deservedly won. “What I’m most pleased about is that we didn’t lie about it,” said coach Mitch Kniat, referring to his team’s courageous performance.

The 39-year-old and Arminia – that fits. After years of crisis and the fall from the Bundesliga to the 3rd division in just one year, he not only stabilized the team and made it a cup terror. Kniat has once again turned the club into a candidate for promotion. As third in the table, Bielefeld will play the top game at Dynamo Dresden on Sunday. The euphoria is huge.

“It’s just fun with the team. We always get a great plan from the coaching team,” reported Oppie. The coach himself, who spoke of his best victory on the mountain pasture and also announced “full throttle” for the party, returned the praise to the team: “It’s not just that you put out a plan, but the boys also trust it .”

The fact that the plan against Freiburg worked was not least due to goalkeeper Jonas Kersken. The 24-year-old prevented an early deficit with his saved penalty against Florent Muslija, and after the game he celebrated exuberantly in front of the south stand with the most loyal fans. “We feel what’s inside us,” said Kersken confidently.

Defense attorney Christopher Lannert also ensured that everything worked out that evening. The 26-year-old scored for the first time in the cup – with a dream goal. “We’ve been joking a bit all week and said: I’m like a ketchup bottle: If it comes once, it comes right,” he said with a smile. He couldn’t have chosen a better time to do this.

The unforeseen income from the DFB Cup can help to make the current high flight even more sustainable. Reaching the quarter-finals brings almost 1.7 million euros into the coffers. In the rounds so far there have already been around 1.5 million euros – a lot of money for the third division team, which doesn’t appear like one in the cup.