Brazilian midfielder Diego has pledged to give his all in today’s German Cup final for Werder Bremen against Bayer Leverkusen when he will play his last game before joining Italian giants Juventus.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year deal worth 24.5 million euros (US$34.3 million) that will take him to Italy, but admits today’s German Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium is very important to him.
“This game will be my most important — not only with Werder but in my whole life,” said Diego who has won 34 caps for Brazil. “I am very happy that I have a chance of giving something back for all the devotion that was given to me in Bremen. I am top motivated and will give everything I have in Berlin.”
Both Bremen and Leverkusen under-achieved this season, finishing mid-table in the Bundesliga, while today’s showcase final provides them with a chance to win some much needed silverware.
Werder lost last week’s UEFA Cup final to Shakhtar Donetsk in Istanbul and coach Thomas Schaaf is desperate to finish the season with a win.
Leverkusen are expected to have Germany strikers Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kiessling up front while Diego leads the Bremen attack playing behind Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida and ex-Chelsea forward Claudio Pizarro.
After the Championship Shield, the DFB Cup is the second-most coveted trophy in German soccer.
Bremen have won the trophy five times while Nuremberg have lifted the cup four times and the last time was in 2007 when they beat Stuttgart 3-2 after extra-time.
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