The 09 countdown to the final - every day a new chapter of BVB’s DFB Cup history! Here’s the second one: “Fritz Eckenga – Onto the stage with a 1-0 lead”.

I was on a stage in Saarbrücken the last time we played a cup final. The DFB and UEFA officials should really start trying to bring their schedule in line with mine.

Something has to change. At least the organisers in Saarbrücken were so nice to put a television in my dressing room. I left for the stage when we were leading 1-0, and returned at a score of 3-1. The rest was celebration, and the party that followed at the hotel bar also had some nice moments, mainly because the barkeeper was a Bayern fan. He had to work all through the night but we were, being fair winners, very generous to him.

On 17 May I will be on stage again, this time in the Westphalian city of Nottbeck. My gig will be finished by kick-off time. The organisers are in the know. A big screen has been promised.

We all know that history doesn’t repeat itself. That’s why it’s not going to be such a clear result. I think, a 4-2 win for BVB would make everyone happy. Well, okay not “everyone”, but in this context we really cannot pay much heed to the feelings of some individual Bavarian souls.