The history of RB Leipzig is very short. So short that no former player was found as a cup ambassador who could carry the DFB Cup onto the lawn of the Olympic Stadium with Eintracht Frankfurt’s club legend Karl-Heinz Körbel before kick-off. The former Leipzig goalkeeping coach Perry Brautigam brought the trophy into the stadium. The 60-year-old was the goalkeeper coach for the Saxons for six years and has been a club representative since 2015.
Two hours later, another Leipzig player held the trophy in his hands. After the 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, captain Willi Orban lifted the pot into the sky of Berlin to the whistles of the many Frankfurt fans. “That makes us extremely proud in our young club history. We showed that we can win and defend titles. We were in the final four times in five years,” said Oliver Mintzlaff. Mintzlaff acts as CEO Corporate Projects and Investments and is a member of the three-person management of Red Bull GmbH.
The team celebrated the title defense in front of the fans. A weak final found a deserved winner in Leipzig as the team had two better moments. RB played his few attacks much more consistently than Eintracht. The cup victory was not only deserved because of the final. Marco Rose’s team won all seven cup games this season by at least two goals – Leipzig marched through the competition.
“Winning a title is something great. We’re going to have a nice evening tonight. It’s nice to make so many people happy. I’m privileged to be able to celebrate this in my hometown – it feels great. Defending the title is extraordinary. We played a very good Bundesliga season, that’s the icing on the cake again,” said Leipzig coach Marco Rose.
His counterpart was denied the big happy ending. Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner lost his last game as Eintracht coach, but was composed after the defeat in the final. “We did very well until we conceded. It was such a game where it was clear that the team that scored first would win. Compliments to Leipzig, they deserved to win,” said Glasner. Of course he was disappointed: “But I’m more proud of what we’ve achieved in the past two years. Now I’m starting to look back on two wonderful years in Frankfurt. The two years will always stay in my heart.”