Following a training session on Thursday morning, the women’s team from VfL Wolfsburg set off towards Cologne. This Saturday, May 19th, in the RheinEnergieSTADION, the Lady-Wolves take on FC Bayern Munich in the DFB-Cup final (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Having claimed the German championship crown last weekend, with a 2-0 win over SGS Essen, the Green-Whites already have one title under their belts and they will be aiming for their second on Saturday.
"You could sense the tension"
Having won the Bundesliga title, the Lady-Wolves enjoyed a couple of days off on Monday and Tuesday. Following two further training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, the Green-White crew set off for Cologne. "The mood in training was naturally very positive and relaxed, but you could sense the tension too. The players all know that things immediately continue and this Saturday we have our next target in front of us," stated VfL head coach Stephan Lerch, who considers last weekend’s early title win an advantage for his team considering the two up-coming finals: "Last Sunday’s game can naturally release some additional resources. It also goes some way to relieving us, as we know we have already achieved our first goal. The team want more though. When you are in a final and you have that chance – then you want to win."
Too soon for Popp participation
With Sara Gunnarsdottir having been rested against SGS Essen last weekend, Lerch explained that she is "doing well". However, the coach is decidedly more sceptical in relation to Alexandra Popp: "The game on Saturday could well be a little too soon for Alexandra. We’ll have to wait and see how the muscle reacts. We are confident that she will be fit for the Champions League final though." There could be one player returning to the squad in Babett Peter, who is back training fully with the team again, having recovered from a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon of her right foot.
