Saturday evening will see the final of this year’s DFB Pokal in the Olympiastadion in Berlin. It’s a stadium Werder’s departing captain Clemens Fritz has fond memories of, mostly because of the year 2009, the last time the Green-Whites fought for the cup in Germany’s capital. “2009 was my first time in Berlin. We travelled over on the Friday and saw straight away that the whole city was Green. Werder fans had taken over the city, and that was clear when we went to the stadium the next day.
Fritz collected the biggest title of his career eight years ago against Bayer Leverkusen, the DFB Pokal. Head Coach Thomas Schaaf had some strong words of wisdom for his players before the game. “He told us, boys, there are not many more better feelings in life than to be in a Cup final in Berlin,” said the 36-year-old, looking back at his career.
Before kick off the then right back took time to soak up his surroundings. “To stand in the stadium and see how one half was black and red and one half was green was something so special,” said Fritz.
Werder were triumphant thanks to a goal from Mesut Özil. There were celebrations in Berlin that night and the next day back in Bremen. The arrival back in Bremen was also a special moment for the long-term Werder captain. The tour through Bremen, being able to feel all the excitement in the air, standing on the town hall steps, you could tell all of the city was with us.”
