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Defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf will play the Liebherr TTBL final against cup winners TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen in Frankfurt on June 15. In this interview, Düsseldorf's top player Dang Qiu talks about the record champions' chances, the special constellation caused by the simultaneous departure of Borussia's idol Timo Boll and also looks ahead to the Rhinelander's first season without the figurehead of German table tennis.

Dang Qiu, in the Liebherr TTBL final on June 15 in Frankfurt, you and defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf will face cup winners TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. Which team do you think is the favorite?

It's difficult to say which team is really the favorite. On paper, both teams are extremely strong. At the moment, Ochsenhausen may have the somewhat broader chest, as they have already won the cup this season and have a phenomenal individual player in Hugo Calderano up front at the moment. He is in breathtaking form after his recent World Cup success, and that will certainly give his team an extra boost.

What can you and Borussia do to counter the TTF's run and Calderano's strength?

We have absolutely nothing to hide. It's no coincidence that we've won the last four championships in a row and are in the final for the fifth time in a row. These are all signs of our strength. That's why I'm confident that we'll definitely have a good chance. I think it will be a match of equals.

Düsseldorf lost both duels with Ochsenhausen in the points round. Does that play a role in your plans for the final?

I don't think the matches in the regular season will play a major role in the final. In both games, neither team fielded a full line-up and didn't travel with the entire team. I think things will be different in the final - each team will play completely. Then the cards will be completely reshuffled once again.

Timo Boll is playing the irrevocable last match of his professional career in your team. Does that provide additional motivation for the Borussia team?

I can only speak for myself, but I can probably also say for our entire team that it's something special, a huge highlight, to play the very last match of Timo's career. It will definitely be a very special day, a very emotional day - especially for Timo, but also for us. Of course, that motivates me a lot and I hope that we and Timo himself can give each other the perfect farewell for Timo.

How does this special constellation make itself felt?

In my opinion, it's particularly noticeable mentally. I'm just happy that we've managed to reach the TTBL final as our big goal for the season, and then more or less on his own doorstep in Frankfurt. Anything more than that would be an encore in my eyes, and we will of course do our best to give Timo a crowning finale.

Could Boll's farewell in the final also be a mental disadvantage for his opponent?

I don't know exactly how his opponent will deal with the situation that Timo is playing his last match against him of all people. But yes - it could of course be something special for the opponent, depending on who it will be. But all in all, I think we're all professional enough to concentrate on the sporting side of things, even in a situation like this.

It's still a while until the final, but what role do you expect to play?

In recent years at Borussia, I have often more or less taken on the leading role in a sporting sense. I've often been put in the top position in important matches, in the decisive games, and I've always sold myself very well and go into the game with a broad chest. But I also know that we have a very dangerous team, especially with Anton Källberg and Timo, so we can rotate the line-up. But overall, I see myself more or less as the leader in our current team and, as in the last one or two years, as the points scorer, but not as captain, because that's definitely Timo.

Finals always mean pressure. In this respect, does the previous Champions League final have any significance for your team or is there already new pressure in Frankfurt?

Finals always have a special significance. Of course, the Champions League final just two weeks before will certainly still be in our bones or on our minds. But I hope that we can already celebrate a sense of achievement. It's also a title that I personally would very, very much like to win, as we've always come very close in the past three years. But every game is unique and that's why it's important to have a new preparation for the TTBL final.

The new face of your team for the first season after the “Timo Boll era” has already been determined. What do you think will be important for Düsseldorf?

It was a bit strange that Timo wasn't at the photo shoot for the new season recently. At first we all wondered where Timo would be, but it will be our first season without Timo. I think it will be important that we all perform well and that we all remain motivated to perform well. If we can do that, I'm very, very optimistic about the new team, because we've brought in young and hungry players who are also very strong players.

Once again about the final: what will be the deciding factors?

It will definitely come down to form on the day. I think that's the most important thing. We have always managed to be in a particularly good mood on day X and always managed to win the overall title. I think it will have to be a cohesive team performance, because you don't win titles as a collection of individual players, you always have to work as a team. That's why I think that - apart from form - it will be the most important thing.

Thank you very much for talking to us, Dang Qiu.

Interview: Florian Manzke