Geppert: "There's huge excitement for the final!"

Congratulations on reaching the Final of the German Championship. Getting past VfL Wolfsburg so comfortably is by no means a matter of course.

Sebastian Geppert: "It certainly isn't. Wolfsburg had to fight it out against top teams such as RB Leipzig, Hertha BSC, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen and Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga North/North-East. They were also difficult matches for us because Wolfsburg opted for man-marking across the pitch. From a tactical perspective, that was a new experience. But the boys implemented our plan well, played with composure for the most part and defended with concentration as a unit. Now there's huge excitement for the final."

Would you have preferred Bayern over 1. FC Cologne in the final?

Geppert: "In truth, it doesn't matter. I'd backed Cologne to triumph, and that's how it panned out in the end. It'll be a great final. We know Cologne from the Bundesliga and they know us. The fact we won the last meeting in Cologne 3-0 gives us a good feeling, but Sunday will be a new situation entirely."

Are you planning any special procedures this week?

Geppert: "It'll all be business as usual. Why should we change what has been so successful so far? The only difference: we will be checking into a hotel chosen by the DFB with the Cologne team on Saturday and will meet them in the evening for a banquet."

Having beaten Bayern 3-2 in Munich last year, this time around at 13:00 CET on Sunday you'll be playing in a home final at Stadion Rote Erde. Is that an advantage or, given the high expectations, more of a disadvantage?

Geppert: "No, it's a positive pressure. We're delighted about every BVB fan who comes to lend us their support on Sunday. However, I do not believe there to be a direct home advantage, because the U17s barely know the Rote Erde. Unfortunately, we won't be able to train in the stadium on Saturday as an athletics event is taking place."

How is the current team different to the 2018 title-winners?

Geppert: "That's a good but difficult question. This season, in addition to Youssoufa Moukoko, we've had some wonderful individual talents such as Alaa Bakir, Ramzi Ferjani and Immanuel Pherai, but we've functioned well as a collective too. We've grown together as a team this season. There is a strong sense of camaraderie that sets us apart. There are other players too, really good lads like Albin Thaqi, Tim Böhmer, Ansgar Knauff, Lloyd Kuffour and Rilind Hetemi. They're proud of what we've achieved together."

And yet you were without two key performers, Kamal Bafounta and Tekin Gencoglu, for the entire second half of the season. In particular, Bafounta in defensive midfield has been a firm fixture. How did you cope with this loss?

Geppert: "We've shared the responsibility across the team. Lütke Frie, for example, took on a slightly more defensive role and Maik Amedick, another player who operates centrally, has done a really good job too. Bafounta is a great guy, off the pitch too. He helped the team a lot in the first half of the campaign, but unfortunately he had to undergo two knee operations. But he  – like Tekin Gencoglu and the rest of the squad – will be available at the weekend."

Everyone's talking about Youssoufa Moukoko. What makes him so outstanding?

Geppert: "He's completely focused, brimming with ambition, plus he's one of the first to arrive at training and one of the last to leave. He's popular with everyone. He works for the team and they for him. He's the first one to watch the video sequences we send to the players on their phones. Youssoufa invests an incredible amount. I don't only like him as a player."

For you personally, too, Sunday marks the end of an extremely successful but very strenuous year.

Geppert: "It's been verging on brutal, with almost no days off. After the 2018 final, it was straight to Hennef and for nine months I did a coaching course. The last few days of the week belonged to Borussia and the U17s. The entire staff of the U17s and my assistant Eren Yilmaz deserve a big compliment. They've supported and assisted me in an exemplary manner. This season has required strength and energy. That's why I'm looking forward to a few weeks of holiday. It all starts again on 8 July with pre-season and an almost completely new squad, and for them too we'll have very high hopes."

Sebastian Geppert was talking to Wilfried Wittke.