AOn Thursday evening, a few minutes after the rousing 3-1 win over Olympiacos in the Europa League, Sebastian Rode set the direction for the away game in Bochum this Sunday (7.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and DAZN). “We have to call up our performance against the promoted team and accept the hot fight,” said the Eintracht captain in the press conference room of the World Cup arena.
The 31-year-old didn’t want to be a spoilsport in high spirits, the joy of the Frankfurt Festival on the international stage was written on his face – especially because he had made his comeback for around ten minutes after a long injury break (knee) and was back again the success community was. But with his wake-up call, Rode warned his colleagues not to continue the playful fickleness this season.
The harmony is unpredictable: Sometimes it shows its best side like against Piraeus or Bayern Munich (2: 1), and sometimes it is in insufficient shape like in the 1: 2 at home against Hertha BSC Berlin – including the Bochum coach Thomas From a distance, Reis noticed that the Hessians are a “lucky bag”. “We have to get constancy and take the duel with Piraeus as a small measure,” demanded Rode. “It would be nice if this game were the key moment for a successful season.” The beginning of a new start is made from Eintracht’s point of view. “After the Berlin game, we wanted a reaction.” According to Rode, every player knows “what has struck the hour”.
Everyday business Bundesliga
In Bochum, Eintracht has the day-to-day business in the Bundesliga again. She literally has to stay on the ball now. Prove to everyone that she is really capable of reversing. “Most of all, we lack consistency over 90 minutes or over several match days.” It is important “that we don’t fall into euphoria now,” warned Oliver Glasner. With VfL, the coach expects a “highly motivated opponent in a sold-out stadium. We are warned. If you play 95 percent in the Bundesliga, you leave the field as a loser, ”he said. His captain Rode assumes “that it will be more difficult for us than against Piraeus”.
In the rankings, Eintracht and Bochum are neighbors in the lower segment: The climber has seven points, the Frankfurt, who only managed one success in eight matches, one more. If the relegation battle is not to become an annoying constant topic for them, the Hessians should prevail at VfL. What would meet their requirements.
Suddenly a different body language
His team must now take “the momentum and this self-confidence” from the Piraeus game, said Glasner after the appearance of Eintracht, which played in front of 35,000 spectators with speed football, courage and conviction. Suddenly the body language of the players was different. The professionals put aside the hesitant and timid, instead they did their work with passion and aggressiveness. In addition, the Frankfurters dared to play combination football in the most beautiful form over six or seven stations. Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp described what was on offer as a “delicacy”.
Get free access to all articles on FAZ.NET for 30 days with F +.
READ F + NOW
The new offensive series played a large part in the extensive festive meal on the square. The additions Sam Lammers, Jens Petter Hauge and Jesper Lindström, who recently hadn’t got the attacking game going, had to give way. “It’s good that the guys are out of the line of fire,” said Glasner. In their place, the playful driver Daichi Kamada was allowed in the central midfield and Gonçalo Paciência and Rafael Borré in the storm.
The Colombian took responsibility for the penalty he converted to make it 1-0. And Portuguese Paciência was involved in Kamada’s third goal as Piraeus goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik ricocheted off the attacker’s shot. Glasner certified Borré to have made a “great game”. “He feels more and more comfortable here.” It was an advantage “that Gonçalo and Rafael can talk,” said the coach.
Kamada, whom the coach highlighted as a “highly intelligent player”, also let go of the action. “Daichi moved skillfully in the narrow spaces and found the gaps again and again. Sometimes he was between the chains, then he started to run deep again and scored a great goal. ”Kamada is best at the Europa League: In his 13 appearances in the competition he has so far scored seven goals and has two assists.
Against Piraeus, Glasner had bet on a three or five defensive chain for the fourth time in a row. On Thursday with a strong defense chief Makoto Hasebe, who had a pass rate of 91 percent and 78 ball contacts. Like Tuta, Almamy Touré and Djibril Sow, the 37-year-old Japanese suffered from muscular problems after the exercise. “It doesn’t seem to be that bad,” said Glasner. “It will be our task to restore mental and physical freshness by Sunday.”
.
