Löw debut in knockout game: "Cup is something special"

The seven-week era of Zsolt Löw as coach of RB Leipzig begins with a knockout game. On Wednesday (20:45/ZDF and Sky), Leipzig must show in the DFB Cup semi-final at VfB Stuttgart that they have recognized the signs of the times and that the work of previous coach Marco Rose has left positive traces.

In any case, Löw's successor is on fire ahead of his debut. He has tried to make it clear to the team that you can win a title with two victories. He has already won several trophies. "Winning a cup is something very special," said Löw. In the possible final in Berlin, Arminia Bielefeld awaits as opponents. The third division side sensationally knocked defending champions Bayer Leverkusen out of the competition with a 2:1 win in front of their home fans.

Löw left it open as to who will line up in Stuttgart. There is also no decision yet on the goalkeeper issue, after regular keeper Peter Gulacsi returned following his absence due to illness in Mönchengladbach.

RB are in a cup semi-final for the fifth time. The Saxons have won all previous preliminary round matches. And another detail speaks in RB's favor: Löw's two predecessors, Domenico Tedesco and Rose, won the trophy in the same season in which they joined RB.