Gerhard Tremmel

DWTV:

"Did you celebrate in style?"

Gerhard Tremmel:

"I don't know about the other players. I had a lot to drink at the party after the game - but that was it."

DWTV:

"How long did the party go?"

Gerhard Tremmel:

"Don't ask me about that evening - I don't know anymore."

But why so modest? It really was a reason to celebrate. 2-nil against Hamburg at home proved to all the pundits that Cottbus was not relegation material. Congratulations!

Gerhard Tremmel:

"It's great. After the first half of the season no one expected us to hang on in the league. But we worked hard, we believed in ourselves and I think ultimately we deserved to stay up."

DWTV:

How important is the coach for all of you?

Gerhard Tremmel:

"He's the father of our success, you could say. He got us on track. And he didn't lose steam, he kept stepping up the pace, regardless if we won or lost."

Bojan Prasnikar took the helm at Cottbus in the 8th round when the team was at the bottom of the table. Three weeks later he made Tremmel number one keeper.

Gerhard Tremmel:

"It's not possible for a goalie to go a whole year without a mistake, and that's why it's so important to have the coach's trust. That's the feeling I have with our coach at the moment and I hope it will continue."

Things are certainly looking good for Tremmel! He's been a hero in Cottbus since the relegation battle. Quite a change from last season, where he played one game, and his earlier years sitting on the bench at Hertha and Hanover.

DWTV:

What is the hardest thing about being the number two?

Gerhard Tremmel:

"Well, I've never seen myself as number two, but it's always hard, because you're not going to get substituted on to the field. It's hard to stay motivated because you know you won't have a chance to get into the goal unless the other goalie gets injured. You have to find things you're good at, and ways to get motivated. As time goes on that gets harder and harder - but I think I managed pretty well."

DWTV:

"Was there a highlight this season that was a real turning point for you or the club?"

Gerhard Tremmel:

"Yes, that was definitely the Bayern Munich game here, no question. It was perfect timing. We were doing very badly in that phase, and then along come the German champions with all those superstars and we beat them 2-nil at home. I think the way we played against Bayern was really impressive. That was really a highlight. And we improved from then on."

Gerhard Tremmel:

"I think when a player from Duisburg shoots a penalty and you stop it, that's just as good as stopping one from Ribery. Of course they're Bayern superstars and all that, and of course I love it. I got so much positive resonance after the game. But basically I'm happy about every penalty I manage to stop."

DWTV:

"Would you like to play for Bayern again?"

Gerhard Tremmel:

"It would be hard to say no. Of course it would be a dream for me to play for that club again, but I have to be realistic and at the moment it's not an issue."

DWTV:

Even though the great goalie is leaving?

Gerhard Tremmel:

"He's definitely left his mark on the goalkeeping landscape. You'll always end up being compared with Oliver Kahn - and there are a lot of things you can learn from him - like how he keeps his concentration for the full 90 minutes - and can stop a shot right up into the 90th minute. I'd like to see what I can pick up from him...."

Gerhard Tremmel:

"OK, that's it. I've been yacking away!"