This week could become one of the greatest in Mala Grohs’ still young career. Fresh from winning the Bundesliga title at the weekend, she and FC Bayern Women now have the DFB Cup final to come on Thursday. Ahead of the big game in Cologne, the goalkeeper spoke to fcbayern.com about facing Wolfsburg, her cheat sheet in the semi-final and potentially winning a domestic double.
Interview with Mala Grohs
Mala, last weekend you wrapped up the Bundesliga title in Leverkusen, and now you’ve got the DFB Cup final on Thursday. How excited are you for the game?
Mala Grohs: “Hugely. We’re so excited for the game. It’s the club’s first final since 2018. Lots of us have never played in a DFB Cup final. The crowd in Cologne will be unique. It’ll be a really special game for all of us.”
Mala Grohs is preparing to play in her first DFB Cup final. It could be a fourth major honour for the 22-year-old goalkeeper after Bundesliga crowns in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
What do you think is so special about the cup?
“Not easy to say. At the start of the season, you always say the cup is the shortest route to a title. Compared to a long Bundesliga season, it’s obviously fewer games to get there. But the cup is still so tricky. We’ve not made it to the final in recent years, so the old adage is a bit deceiving. It makes it even better that we’re there this year.”
Before we look at the final, we need to take another look at the semi-final against Frankfurt. You saved an incredible three penalties in the shootout. Have you ever done that before?
"No, I've never experienced anything like it. My last penalty shootout was at a youth indoor tournament when I was still playing for Bochum. So that was a while ago [laughs]. If anything, the situation was comparable to being awarded a penalty shortly before the end of the game. I knew that I had to be there and that I was needed now. It was a special feeling that I'd never really experienced before.”
Enjoy Mala Grohs‘ shootout saves again🧤💪:
After Frankfurt's penalties, you kept glancing at your water bottle. What was it all about?
“I had a little cheat sheet on the bottle. During the penalty shootout, I kept checking to see if the right shooter was there. Sometimes it helped me, but sometimes it was a bit confusing [laughs]. Fortunately, it worked out well in the end.”
Sydney Lohmann said after the game that you hadn't saved a penalty in training the day before. What's the story behind that?
“That's actually true [laughs]. But it didn't stress me out. Sometimes it's much harder against your teammates than in a game. I was just glad that I converted my own penalty in the final training session. You never know if you'll have to take one yourself.”
The final is coming up on Thursday. Bayern could win just their second DFB Cup, after 2012. Is the pressure greater before a game like this?
“Yes, definitely. It will certainly be a different situation to a normal Bundesliga match, if only because it's a final. We have a unique opportunity. We could win the second DFB Cup in the club's history. That obviously gives the match a very special character.”
In the final, you will face serial winners Wolfsburg. What makes them so good in this competition in particular?
“Wolfsburg have the quality to be on it. They have outstanding individual players who have an incredible amount of experience, especially in games like this. They've won the cup in the last nine years for a reason. We'd do well to approach Thursday's game against them like a normal match and forget the cup history for a bit.”
Bayern won their last match against Wolfsburg 4-0, thanks in part to Grohs' saves.
What makes you positive about winning the final on Thursday?
“The most recent encounters in particular. We've managed to beat them twice this season, both at home and in Wolfsburg. After winning the Bundesliga, we're travelling to Cologne with a huge amount of confidence. We have it in our own hands and want to play our game. We proved in the semi-final against Frankfurt that we can stay focussed for 120 minutes.”
With Vivien Endemann and Ewa Pajor, Wolfsburg have the top scorers in both the DFB Cup and the Bundesliga in their ranks. As a goalkeeper, how do you prepare for such an attack?
“We naturally prepare for different scenarios that often occur in their attacking play. In Wolfsburg's case, it's mainly crosses and playing down the flank. We work through these situations several times in training, and we also look at individual set-piece situations together. But we also know the team very well thanks to the many encounters in recent years, so we know exactly what to expect.”
It's just under two hours from your home in Münster to Cologne. Will your family be there to support you?
“Yes, definitely. My family and many friends will be there in Cologne. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there. It's always a cool feeling when they're there.”
Win on Thursday and you will be the first Bayern team to win the domestic double. What would this second title mean for you as a team?
“The double would of course be a dream. The fact that we defended our Bundesliga title is an incredibly important step for us. Ultimately, it's the reward for the commitment and professionalism we've shown over the past year. Our aim now is to go one better. The motivation is definitely huge. Holding two titles in our hands at the end of the season would be historic.”
Go behind the scenes of Bayern’s title celebrations at the weekend:
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