Together with teammate David Alaba, Serge Gnabry was the first player from the Bayern squad out on the training ground at the Säbener Straße facility on Thursday morning. He walked onto the pitch in a good mood and went straight to work. Two days before the DFB Cup final in Berlin, the striker is ready for the duel with Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic Stadium. "The anticipation is very high because we know we can win another title and do the double again," said Gnabry.
Happy memories of Berlin
The 24-year-old likes to think back to last season when he featured in the DFB Cup final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium for the first time and lifted the trophy thanks to the 3-0 win over RB Leipzig. "The atmosphere in Berlin last year was amazing, the fans did a lot," explained Gnabry: "Of course it's a shame this won't happen this season. But we are still looking forward to the game and preparing as best we can."
The winger followed his statements with action during training. As always, the 13-time Germany international showed full commitment on the pitch and, together with his teammates, worked on the tactical guidelines prepared by coach Hansi Flick for the penultimate session before the final. Looking back at the two previous duels with the Werkself this season, the Munich players know about the strengths of the opponent and are prepared.
Serge Gnabry and Co. have already clinched the championship and now have a chance to do the double.
Goals against Leverkusen - Gnabry knows what to do
"We were the better team in the first meeting of the season when we lost at home to Leverkusen, but we didn't take our chances," Gnabry said, recalling the 2-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena at the end of November. "In the return fixture in Leverkusen we did better. That's why we go into the game with confidence and the small advantage that we won the last meeting."
Gnabry was among the goalscorers for the record champions in the 4-2 win in June - just over a month before the final in the capital. It was also his most recent goal in the FCB shirt. Saturday would be the perfect opportunity for him to change that.
You can read about the previous cup duels with Leverkusen here:
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