- "Nothing is impossible" - Ulm feverishly faces Bayern
Second division promoted side SSV Ulm is eagerly awaiting their clash with football record champions FC Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup. "This is naturally a huge game for us, not just for our team, but for our club, for the city of Ulm, for the entire region, for our fans," said SSV coach Thomas Wörle ahead of the cup opener on Friday (8:45 PM/ZDF and Sky). "We're really looking forward to it."
The former Bundesliga side SSV, who are playing in the second division for the first time in 23 years after spending time in lower leagues, are the "absolute underdogs" against Bayern, according to Wörle. But with 17,400 spectators in the sold-out Donaustadion, the club has "the will to deliver a real cup fight". Under certain circumstances, "a tiny cup chance might become a little bigger". "Nothing is impossible, and we'll fight for it."
Wörle knows the FC Bayern club very well, having personally trained their women's team for nine years and winning the German championship with them in 2015 and 2016 before joining Ulm in 2021. The 42-year-old expects the FCB to be highly motivated after their second round exit in the DFB Cup last season against third division side 1. FC Saarbrücken and with new coach Vincent Kompany.
The Ulmers know how to knock out a heavily favored Bundesliga side from the cup: On August 18, 2018, the then fourth division side beat title holders Eintracht Frankfurt 2:1.
Despite being in the second division for the first time in two decades, SSV Ulm's enthusiasm for their cup match against Bavarian giants FC Bayern Munich is palpable. Wörle, their coach, spent nine years training Bayern's women's team and led them to consecutive German championships in 2015 and 2016 before joining SSV Ulm.
