DFB Pokal 2019: Niko Kovac hoping to end turbulent first season in charge of Bayern Munich with domestic double

Saturday will be a third return home in three years for native Berliner Kovac, who led former club Eintracht Frankfurt to back-to-back cup finals in 2017 and 2018, and delivered a shock victory over Bayern last year Berlin: Cup specialist Niko Kovac is hoping to end a turbulent first season in charge of Bayern Munich with a domestic double when his side face RB Leipzig in the German Cup final in Berlin on Saturday. Saturday will be a third return home in three years for native Berliner Kovac, who led former club Eintracht Frankfurt to back-to-back cup finals in 2017 and 2018, and delivered a shock victory over Bayern last year. The Bayern coach heaped praise on Leipzig, saying that they were the “hardest opponent we could have got in the final.” He said that he would have to pick his best team for Saturday’s game, suggesting that departing veterans Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery would start on the bench in their final game for Bayern. “If they come off the bench, we will have to play well, just as we will do from the beginning.” Leipzig are targeting a first major trophy of their ten-year history, and Rangnick said his side hoped to use the final as a springboard to challenge Bayern for further domestic titles in future.