“Hansa will throw everything they’ve got at us – but so will we!”

We’re back in DFB-Pokal action! After a perfect start to the second half of the season with a 4-1 win over Mainz and a 2-0 victory in Stuttgart last Saturday, we will take on FC Hansa Rostock in the round of 16 in the DFB-Pokal. Our aim is to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years. We’ve reached the final in Berlin twice during this period too.

Our head coach Domenico Tedesco spoke at the pre-match press conference about this upcoming game and the squad.

Domenico Tedesco on...

...the DFB-Pokal:

• “The Pokal is really important for me personally. We’re in the round of 16 and we really want to reach the quarterfinals. We’re preparing ourselves properly, both physically and mentally. It will be a good and exciting game. Hansa will throw everything they’ve got at us – but so will we!”

...the 1,000 fans allowed to attend:

• “I’m pleased that there will be spectators there. It will do us good and it’s a good start. These will be the first fans I will meet in the stadium. I’m looking forward to it, I have to say.”

...the opponents:

• “Hansa are doing several things really well. They’re not easy to defend from set pieces. They play for a lot of second balls and we can’t underestimate their strength there.”
   

...Rostock’s supposed drop in form:

• “It’s a new competition. It’s important to separate knockout cup games from league matches – where they are doing alright too. They’re above the relegation zone and I assume that’s their aim. We’ve prepared for them as if they were a Bundesliga side.

...the return of Konrad Laimer:

• “We’re pleased that he’s back. To be honest, we had expected him to return sooner, but he had a few minor issues. We gave him time and that did him really good. As a result, he was able to join in straight away and is free of pain. He unites a lot of things. He’s a player that covers lots of ground and is really strong in the tackle, plus he’s good on the ball. He’s an important player for us.”

Current squad news

• Dominik Szoboszlai is out with a minor muscle strain he suffered in the Bundesliga game against Stuttgart. The scans showed that he didn’t suffer any structural damage. He could be an option for Sunday’s match against Wolfsburg.
   
• Emil Forsberg (thigh muscle) and Marcel Halstenberg (inner meniscus) remain unavailable. 
   
   
• Amadou Haidara and Ilaix Moriba remain with their national sides at the Africa Cup of Nations (9th January to 6th February).

Hansa coach Jens Härtel on...

...their tactics against us:                                 

• "It would be very good if we can keep a clean sheet for as long as possible. Not trying to play ourselves would be tough too though. It will be hard not to become tired against a team with the quality they have, so we need a mix of both. That means playing our part in the game with our attack and remaining compact at the back.” 
   

...the round of 16:

• "Reaching this stage is certainly not a given for us. We should look forward to it and try to enjoy it. We want to show how good we are against a team that played in the Champions League this season. We shouldn’t fear them and then we’ll just have to see what happens.”