Berlin’s Calling

It’s starting to get spooky. While elsewhere in Germany the DFB-Pokal still brings chaos, penalties, and accidental beer showers, our Werkself is treating this competition like a fine dining service: no frills, no fuss, but always three clean courses served on time. Against St. Pauli, the menu was clear: 3:0, another ticket to the semifinals, and not a bead of sweat wasted.

Let’s be fair – St. Pauli didn’t show up to just swap jerseys. They came with guts and grit, ready to throw punches. But facing Leverkusen’s defense these days is like trying to sneak into a nightclub guarded by a bouncer with a master’s in body language and a black belt in karate. Tapsoba? Clearing balls like he’s still mad about a missed train in Hamburg. And Andrich? Calm as a monk, aggressive as a caffeine-loaded lawnmower.

Then came the moment. Martin Terrier, who’s been flying under some radars lately, decided it was time to remind everyone he exists – with a stunning volley that screamed "yes, I *am* the man of the match." After that, it was textbook Werkself. Schick, who probably has a secret clause to only score important goals, added the second. And when Jonas Hofmann came off the bench and hammered in the third, it felt more like an exclamation mark than a goal.

By the way – that was already the fifth goal from a Leverkusen substitute in this Pokal run. If you’re wondering why we don’t panic when things get tight, just take a look at our bench. Other teams have backups. We have reinforcements.

Coach Hjulmand, as always, kept it cool. Berlin’s not booked yet, but the travel plans are clearly being drafted. His calm contrasts with the excitement we fans can’t quite hide. Because honestly, this team isn’t just good. It’s mature. It knows what it wants, how to get there – and, most importantly, that you don’t win anything by accident.

So no, we’re not dreaming. We’re just watching a team that’s finally playing like a serious contender. Keep pushing, boys. Keep grinding. And maybe, just maybe, this year the trip to Berlin ends with more than just a view of the Brandenburg Gate.