U19s to kick off DFB-Pokal campaign in Cottbus | OneFootball

Borussia's U19 team will start the DFB-Pokal with a tough fixture away to Energie Cottbus. This was the result of the draw made by Holger Bellinghoff, chairman of the DFB Youth Committee, and Gunther Metz, assistant-coach of the Germany U19 team, at the association's headquarters in Frankfurt.

The first round will take place on 11 September and the field of participants is made up of 19 professional teams and 13 amateur sides. Energie Cottbus finished second behind Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga North/Northeast last season after a thrilling title race. BVB have never managed to win this trophy and lost 3-1 against VfB Stuttgart in last season's final.

"I was fairly sure before the draw that we would end up having to make a long trip. Cottbus were really strong last season, but they now have a largely new team. The problem is that the first round of the cup is sandwiched between two UEFA Youth League matches. But if we want to get to the final, and that's what we're aiming for, we have to win in Cottbus," said U19 head coach Mike Tullberg following the draw.

The entire U19 squad, with the exception of Tom Rothe, arrived at training camp in Schwäbisch Hall after a six-and-a-half-hour bus journey. (wiwi)