Despite good assets, Linton Maina’s tally of goals this season has been modest. The offensive player himself knows this, too, and intends to “become more efficient.
Despite good chances, Linton Maina has only scored three Bundesliga goals this season.
IMAGO/Revierfoto
It’s not that he doesn’t already know how professional football works. Linton Maina has well over 100 games in the Bundesliga and 2nd division for Hannover 96 and 1. FC Köln. As a new signing in the Bundesliga this season, he made 30 appearances out of a possible 31 – a decent record for a young footballer who seemed to be on the decline in Hanover and has been thriving since working with Steffen Baumgart in Cologne.
So he’s already experienced a lot. Not enough, however, to not want to – and have to – develop further. The offensive winger with the high basic speed is aware of this. Three goals and six assists – there has to be more: “I know,” said Maina on Tuesday, “that I still have room for improvement. I can definitely develop more goals, become even more dangerous.”
I intend to become more efficient.
His style of play suits Cologne. Maina is good in a direct duel, is always looking for depth and likes to steal free on the far side in order to get into a promising penalty area situation if it is shifted. He showed all of this this season, a lack of overview with the last pass or a lack of callousness in front of goal ensured that the yield of goal participations remained manageable despite the advantages – speed, good shot, athletics. He says self-critically: “I get the chance to score goals.” And right after that is the resolution for the coming season: “I intend to become more efficient.”
He can already start on Friday. The last three games of this season should not be used to show off the Cologne side who have already been saved, but should be approached with the same seriousness as the derby they won in Leverkusen. A great experience for Maina: “I’ve never had a win like that before. Winning the game like that and then celebrating the success with the fans like that was really nice.”
As a fan, Maina “was in the Olympic Stadium from time to time”
The game against Hertha on Friday is a very personal derby for the 23-year-old. Maina was born in the capital, but never played for the “Old Lady”, but for lower-class clubs before moving from SV Empor Berlin to Hannover 96 in the U17s: “I never really had anything to do with the club,” says Maina on Hertha, “I’ve been to the Olympic Stadium as a fan from time to time. Nevertheless, it’s a shame that such a big club from the capital is in the bottom of the table.”
It’s a shame – nothing should change on Friday. Maina sets the direction for the end of the season: “We’re still hungry and we want to finish well for ourselves. The goal is to get as many points as possible. We want the boys who leave us nice last ones give games.”
The game against Hertha may offer the last chance to give the fans a home win this season. As is well known, Bayern come to Müngersdorf on the 34th match day, so you can’t necessarily assume a threesome. Five home games have not been won recently, only one goal was scored in this phase in the 1-1 draw against Mainz. Despite many opportunities, there was no goal celebration. That should be the end of it. Maina: “There was certainly more potential in the past home games. We have to regain our luck at home and make better use of our chances. Then I’m confident that we’ll win another home game.”
2023-05-09 18:00:23
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