Hyypia aims to compete on all fronts

Bayer Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia says his team are targeting progression in the DFB Pokal as a route into European competition.

Leverkusen visit Wolfsburg in the third round of the DFB Pokal – the German Cup – on Wednesday.

Despite his team sitting second on the Bundesliga table, Hyppia feels Leverkusen are the underdogs going into the match at the Volkswagen Arena.

“The DFB Pokal is the shortest way getting into Europe (next season),” he said.

Of course every club wants to get far in the cup and maybe to win it. But now we just focus on that match which is a very important one. We have to be ready to be able to disrupt Wolfsburg’s play better than last time and maybe get more in the match than last time,” he said, referring to a 3-1 defeat in the league.

With traditional heavyweights Bayern Munich flying in the Bundesliga, second-placed Leverkusen are already nine points back from the runaway leaders.

Nevertheless, Hyppia insisted the league title remains a realistic ambition going into the mid-season break.

“Of course you go into every tournament to win it,” he said.

“And (if) we don’t win the DFB Pokal we cannot be satisfied. And it is clear that you can’t say that Bayern Munich has already won the Bundesliga. There are still 17 matches left for every team and anything can happen. Yes, they have a big squad and yes, they’ve done very well until now. That’s a fact. But in football everything is possible.”