"If you tell me whether Naldo's playing..."

Felix Ulrich reports from Berlin

Both coaches responded to questions about potential formations with one-word answers, indicating a preference to reveal nothing until 90 minutes before kick-off. However, the pair did engage in an entertaining verbal exchange. After Klopp had refused to reveal which keeper would feature between the sticks for BVB and Hecking remained coy on Naldo's involvement, the Dortmund coach turned to his counterpart and said: "Come on, I'll tell you who I'm putting in goal if you tell me whether Naldo's playing." The Wolfsburg coach retorted: "My guess would be that Langerak's in goal and Naldo's playing." The definitive answers to both questions, however, remain to be seen.

"The goal all along was to get to Berlin"

What else happened? Not much, if truth be told, apart from the usual banter and expected comments. For example, Jürgen Klopp said: "From the first day we began our season preparations, our goal was to get here and to make an impact. I'm happy that we've succeeded. Every game was difficult, the path we've taken wasn't easy."

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking added: "If I'm in Berlin, then I always want to win. And I stick by that. There's a huge motivation here. We need an extraordinary performance, but I have faith in the team that they will produce one again on Saturday."

"Both teams are on good form"

However, Borussia have found momentum and form towards the end of the season, which makes it difficult to pick out a favourite in the run-up to the 30th final to be played in Berlin's Olympiastadion. "Both teams are on good form. Everything is at stake for both of us. That's the great thing about the final," said Jürgen Klopp. BVB have only lost one of their last seven competitive games, while VfL are unbeaten in their last five - including three victories.

Absentees for the Black and Yellows include Nuri Sahin (irritation of tendon insertion), Kevin Kampl (suspended), Kevin Großkreutz (knee operation) and Adrian Ramos (ankle injury). Kuba has returned to fitness after tearing adductor muscle fibres, despite a slight setback recently. Klopp said: "He will complete a normal training session today. He could play 90 minutes in the final if he had to. We'll have to see whether that happens."

Another who will definitely be involved is Shinji Kagawa. The Japan international has recently hit a rich vein of form and could make the difference on Saturday. Klopp said: "A player of Kagawa's talent can't keep it quiet forever. We have all been absolutely delighted that he's started to show it right before the final. I certainly won't be stopping him."

A match "without tactical constraints"

In this respect it's all set up for a final "without tactical constraints", as Dieter Hecking put it, with the match likely to be won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes. Mats Hummels echoed the sentiment: "The Cup final will be an awesome game. We're facing an outstanding team. Everyone who's going to watch the game will be looking forward to it."

Jürgen Klopp had the final word: "The most important thing is to approach the final courageously. To win tackles at the important points. The lads need to do this - and they will do it."