Champions League Men | 11 Feb 2015
The secret of Borussia’s success
After three turbulent seasons Borussia Dusseldorf again expects the spring with one title in the pocket and the aim to clinch two more. They are actual German Cup winner, winning that trophy in December (3:2 against Fulda), in the national league they are
After three turbulent seasons Borussia Dusseldorf again expects the spring with one title in the pocket and the aim to clinch two more. They are actual German Cup winner, winning that trophy in December (3:2 against Fulda), in the national league they are current leaders (14-1 score) with comfortable advantage on the top (second placed Fulda has 11-4), while in Men’s European Champions League the team reached semi-final after amazing comeback in the returning quarter final leg against reigning champion Pontoise AS Cergy.
Borussia is considered as the one of the most decorated European clubs in all sports, with 63 titles in total: 4 MECL, 6 Cup of Champions, 4 ETTU Cup, 26 Bundesliga and 23 German Cup. Sixteen out of it belong to Timo BOLL who signed for the club on July 1st 2007. Although the club already has two triple crowns (2009/10, 2010/11) manager Andreas PREUSS emphasizes in the interview for our website that the „they don’t think in that direction”. For sure, there is a super motivation to beat Chartres in the forthcoming MECL semi-final (March 13-15th, April 3-5th), bearing in mind that French champion had no mercy against them in the group stage two years ago.
How do you comment this season so far in all competitions? we asked first Andreas PREUSS
“So far we play a great season, we won the cup, we are first in the national league and we reached with a really historical match against Pontoise the semifinal of the Champions League”.
Borussia plays strong like in three or four seasons ago, fighting again for the triple crown: what is the reason for that?
“After three turbulent seasons with injuries and other difficulties we changed the team, looked for players with a special fighting and team spirit character. This team building is the secret of our success”.
It wasn’t so easy to stay focused on the titles after many injuries and changes in the line-ups in last three seasons?
“We have a good mixture between very young players like FRANZISKA – he is our player for he future, also for the time after Timo BOLL, we have ACHANTA, he made a big step in the last two years, he is a very good guy for every team, because he is always fighting, never giving up and always supporting the other players very intensive. We have GIONIS with his embarrassing and entertaining style of playing, he is very intelligent and kindly, really professional and we have our superstar Timo BOLL, who always gives his best, he is really respected as our number 1 and really enjoys to play in this team, because he likes team playing”.
How do you see the chances for the new triple crown this season?
“It is possible to win the triple, but we don’t think in that direction. Everybody is hot to win the next game, our priority is now the semifinal against Chartres. This is an open game, we are better than the last two years, but Chartres has a team, which can play great against Düsseldorf. They know GIONIS quite well from his time in France, so we think it is open. Hopefully FRANZISKA can develop his performance in the next few weeks, because he did not play for four months”.
You are the present and the history of Borussia, winning many trophies with it. How do you see Borussia`s future?
“Our club has a good perspective. We are financially healthy, building up a center for people with handicap – a Paralympic Center – and playing in the Bundesliga with a wheel chair team. In 2017 the World Championships are in Düsseldorf, so this all is a good perspective for the future. In the next five years we will build up a new team for the time after Timo BOLL, but hopefully he will play at least until 2020″.
