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TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen will be fighting for their first championship in six years in the Liebherr TTBL final on June 15 in Frankfurt. In this interview, TTF President Kristijan Pejinovic talks about the importance of his players' World Championship successes, the style of coach Bogdan Pugna and the upcoming upheaval for the new season.

Kristijan Pejinovic, Hugo Calderano from your TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen team returned home from the World Championships in Doha with silver in the singles and Shunsuke Togami even became world champion in the doubles. Have your club, your team and you been able to switch from celebrating to preparing and getting in the mood for the Liebherr TTBL final on June 15 in Frankfurt against defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf?

We were delighted, but unfortunately our busy schedule means there's never much time for joy, socializing or celebrating. But we were happy with the team behind the team for the two boys, and of course also for Simon Gauzy and Leo Iizuka at his first World Cup, both of whom also played strongly. We are proud of all of them. For Hugo and Shunsuke, the World Championships are certainly a personal milestone, they have made history. Now, however, it's fast forward to the final, and the focus is already on that.

What does the success in Qatar mean for your club?

A milestone, of course, but ultimately also a reward for the consistent work that we have done with the entire team in recent years. We have also repeatedly indicated that we want to both challenge and support the athletes at our Liebherr Masters College. These are the first two mega-big titles and medals that we have won. Of course, we have already had similar successes, such as Alvaro Robles, who became double world runner-up. But in the end Hugo topped that with silver in the singles and his victory a few weeks earlier at the World Cup. And the fact that Shunsuke is even bringing gold back to Ochsenhausen is of course something very, very special, but for us it's just another confirmation of the staying power and consistent continuation of the work we started with our athletes. Ultimately, we are all the more pleased that we can show that we are capable of shaping the boys as individual athletes and moving them towards a goal, as well as winning titles as a team and club. The two World Championship medals are the reward for this balance.

Let's talk about the Liebherr TTBL final: there are only a few days left until the title decision - has the tension already set in?

I believe that the tension will only gradually grow in the coming days. In my opinion, our coach Bogdan Pugna is doing everything right with his management of the tightrope act between the World Cup and the Bundesliga final.

Your team has been the favorite in many places, and not just since the World Cup. Can you live with that?

Of course we can live with it. We said at the start of the season that we would make it to two finals and take at least one title home to Ochsenhausen. We've already achieved that by winning the cup, so it's already ‘mission accomplished’. Of course, that doesn't mean that we're going to put all our eggs in one basket and not go for the title - quite the opposite: the championship would of course be the crowning glory of an extremely unique and brilliant season. That's why we can live with being the favorites.

What do you base your assessment on?

Thanks to the cup win and the two World Cup medals behind us, we have something in our luggage that will allow us to perform with a little confidence. We also already have a good feeling, but we will still prepare very, very well for the final.

At least one of your players will be the last opponent for Düsseldorf and German icon Timo Boll in Frankfurt. Do you think it's possible that this could create an additional burden?

No, I don't think so. All the players who could face Timo in the final have already been able to match him all the years before. We also have a goal in mind and that's why all our players will be well prepared for this special situation.

What factors do you think will be decisive in the final?

It sounds like the same old story, but the form on the day will actually be decisive. It was like this, it is like this, it stays like this. That's why we'll try to avoid outside interference as much as possible until the final.

Ochsenhausen had already won the cup in its last two years as champions in 2004 and 2019, as well as in the season just ending. A good omen?

No. Whether good or bad - I don't think much of this view. For me, success and titles simply have to be earned, in all areas and at all levels.

Your coach Bogdan Pugna could win the double at the first attempt in his first TTBL season. How would you characterize his work?

Bogdan is still relatively young in his role, but he's not. He has been a coach at Liebherr Masters College for several years. He has his own style, which he brings with him and which also defines him. I think he deserved to start with the cup title. Now he has to play his second final. That's great, and the experience he's gaining in his first official year as head coach is super. Bogdan is a calm representative, always keeps a cool head, which makes him stand out and is something the players really appreciate. And again, he works hard, he works really rigorously, practically every day, is really approachable for everyone, no matter what the issue is. He is therefore very, very close to his team, and if that is the case, then it can also work out that in a final you have to give the last three to five percent as an extra for success. Bogdan has clearly benefited from Hugo and Simon's development in previous years, but you still have to be able to steer them accordingly and push them a little. He does this very, very well in his own way, and ultimately his success proves him right.

After the final will be before the season again, but this time it will be the first after many years without Calderano and also without Simon Gauzy. What expectations do you have of this radical change?

We simply want to continue with our philosophy. We'll see what expectations the new season brings with it. But after Saarbrücken's reinforcement with Fan Zhendong, there's no need to have any great illusions now. Others will get closer to the title. For us, for the club, it's now important to simply promote this next generation, just like Simon and Hugo did in the past. This team was given the time back then and you can see that it has paid off. It will now be a year of preparation or even a new start for a new generation of players. Our partners are also giving us the time we need.

Back to the World Championships and Hugo Calderano: He is leaving Ochsenhausen to pursue his singles career, but curiously, after announcing his departure, he won the World Cup and reached the final of the World Championships. Did you ever think about trying to convince your star to change his mind before the transfer deadline?

Of course you would like to keep such an exceptional player and person in the squad. But it wasn't as if it was easy for me, but when we were sitting at the table together, we just had to look at each other and both felt: Okay, it's about time, it's good now. Hugo simply needs his freedom and you have to be able to give it to him. That's why the decision is fine.

Which outcome do you predict for the Liebherr TTBL final?

I rarely give predictions. But I hope - and I'm not betting - that we'll win and that it will be the final crown on a great, outstanding and historic season for us.

Thank you very much for the interview, Kristijan Pejinovic.

Interview: Florian Manzke