Hello Angelo, let’s start with a statistic: since your move to VfB in August 2023, you’ve played in every one of the 13 possible DFB Cup games, starting 12 of them. What makes this competition so special for you?
Stiller: “I like the knockout character of the DFB Cup. You can’t really afford to make any mistakes. Details and form on the day determine whether you progress, which is why it’s important to be totally present in the game and deliver when it matters – because there’s no second chance in this competition.”
Which moments from the DFB Cup do you remember most fondly?
Stiller: “My favourite moment is the final whistle in the final last year. In that moment, we knew we’d done it and had won the trophy. The emotions that set free were incredible.”
You and your team-mates face another big match now as SC Freiburg visit the MHP Arena in the semi-finals. What kind of encounter are you anticipating?
Stiller: “We know Freiburg well and know that games against them are often very close. It’ll be important that we defend the long balls well and also pick up lots of the second balls. Fast transitions and chance conversion also play a role in a semi-final like this.”
Do the meetings with Freiburg in the Bundesliga offer any insights for this cup clash?
Stiller: “They certainly offer insights in terms of their basic style of play, but a semi-final in the cup has a very different character. It’s a do-or-die game – both teams know that only one can go through to the final. So, the risk will vary depending on the situation, since a single mistake can decide the outcome of the match. On top of that, the intensity will be very high at every moment.”
