WERDER.DE: How much can you actually prepare for a certain opposition right now, and what are you expecting from Leverkusen?
Jiri Pavlenka: "It’s the same for all of the teams. Nobody knows how their opposition is doing, no team has been able to play any friendlies. For us and for Leverkusen it’s the very first game, so it’s difficult to know what to expect. We can win, and we desperately want to win. Every game counts now, every game is like a cup final for us."
WERDER.DE: What was it like playing a friendly in front of an empty stadium on Monday?
Jiri Pavlenka: "It’s difficult to describe. We’re playing for the fans - that’s what football is all about. When you step out onto the pitch and the stadium is packed, it just makes you happy. So it is very different. We’ve spoken a lot about the situation to try and mentally prepare for it. I think that will help."
WERDER.DE: To what extent will the absence of the supporters affect the game itself?
Jiri Pavlenka: "You can hear everything (laughs). So communication can definitely be better, but it’s like driving without an engine. The fans are like an engine to us, driving us forward, so I wouldn’t really see the communication aspect as an advantage. The way I see it, that doesn’t come close to making up for having no fans there."