Member Associations | 10 Jun 2022

Timo Boll: I hope we can celebrate KARLSSON’s departure with the title

 Borussia Düsseldorf meets 1. FC Saarbrücken TT in the Ballsporthalle Frankfurt on Saturday in the LIEBHERR TTBL final. Players from the record-holding club, have set their sights on the 32nd German championship in the club's history

Timo BOLL (41) talked about the showdown in TTBL, their challenger Saarbrücken and the farewell to Kristian KARLSSON.

In table tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and Cup, Borussia Düsseldorf and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT meets for the third time in a row in a final. What makes the two teams so strong at the moment?

“It is the high individual strength of all players. In addition, the team spirit is right in both teams,” said BOLL.

In the Liebherr Cup final in January, BOLL could only watch the 3-1 draw against Saarbrücken due to injury.

“I had hoped and also believed that my team would make it anyway. But Saarbrücken had a great day and deserved to win. In the end, what counts is the form of the teams on the day, with or without Timo BOLL.”

Düsseldorf has only lost three of 33 games in all competitions so far - two of them against Saarbrücken. Is that a bad omen or a special incentive for the team?

“The games against Saarbrücken are very motivating. You can feel in the preparation that everyone is a bit tenser; everyone is working hard on themselves because we need the best possible performance against them. We definitely feel the pressure they put on us. Not every team can do that. However, we now have a very balanced team and very strong, different doubles variants. This may be a tiny advantage, but we cannot rely on it.”

For Kristian KARLSSON, the Liebherr TTBL final will be Borussia's last game for the time being. After six years in Düsseldorf, he is moving to Hennebont. What advice will you give him and how difficult will the loss be for the team?

“It will definitely be a difficult farewell for both sides. Kristian enjoyed playing in Düsseldorf and we, and especially I, value him as a great teammate, but above all as a wonderful person. We will miss him. I hope we can celebrate his departure with the title in the bag.”