The support was huge. For those responsible at Eintracht, it was a given that Mario Götze would be present at the birth of his daughter. The thinker and leader of the Frankfurt game missed another game in Eintracht’s uniform.
Götze was not there for the 3-1 win against Hoffenheim in Sinsheim, the first Bundesliga away win in almost a year. But his return is imminent, as sports director Markus Krösche said in the catacombs of the Sinsheim Arena. “He is not on parental leave.” This means: This Thursday, in the home game of the Conference League against HJK Helsinki, the 31-year-old driver will be there again.
The fact that Eintracht showed a strong piece of football at TSG Hoffenheim even without Götze and deservedly broke the away ban and finally won again could not necessarily have been expected with such clarity. “But things are still going in the right direction for us,” said Krösche. Processes are becoming more and more internalized. And even the switch from a well-rehearsed three-man defense chain to a four-man defense chain doesn’t seem to pose any problems for the team.
Sympathies and pats on the back
Coach Dino Toppmöller registered his team’s performance with respect and recognition. “My team also remained mentally stable,” he said, sitting side by side with his Hoffenheim colleague Pellegrino Matarazzo on the podium in the Sinsheim stadium. “We played really good football in the first half.”
And because Hoffenheim didn’t manage to score more than just the one goal from Maximilian Beier (3rd minute) in the second half of the game, the Eintracht entourage was able to hold on thanks to goals from Omar Marmoush (11th), Ansgar Knauff (23rd minute). .) and Ellyes Skhiri (45th + 3) are looking forward to a fully deserved sense of achievement. “We are getting better and better at converting our ball possession into goals,” said manager Krösche – and coach Toppmöller added: “We all act as a team. Everyone is important to us.”
In the away game against Hoffenheim, one person was particularly important for Eintracht: Jens Grahl. A few minutes before kick-off, regular goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was “shot in the back again,” as they said. Grahl had to step in and take over at short notice. The way the 35-year-old keeper did this earned him a lot of sympathy and pats on the back. “I was able to warm up for five minutes – and then give it to him.” Sports director Krösche said of Grahl’s start from zero to one hundred: “Like coming from a cold place.”
Grahl, powerless when Hoffenheim scored a goal with their first attack, showed a strong performance, which he even crowned with an assist point. Just like TSG keeper Oliver Baumann before him, the Frankfurt goalkeeper also decided to hit the ball long and wide into the opponent’s half. There Marmoush easily prevailed against the ponderous John Anthony Brooks and scored the important equalizer early on.
“At first the adrenaline flowed through my body,” Grahl said later about his unexpected deployment. “A thousand thoughts flashed through my head.” He thought of the right one “when I saw Omar running off.”
A radiant man
Grahl wasn’t the only one who presented himself in excellent condition abroad. Goalscorer Knauff also remembered the good old days. His 50th Bundesliga game could go down as a turning point in his career, which had recently suffered a blip. For a long time, Knauff was not the Knauff that we knew thanks to his goals and storming runs from the stunning Europa League season, which was crowned with victory in Seville.
“Ansgar has a lot of positive energy,” said his coach. Toppmöller probably played a significant role in Knauff’s comeback. Finally, he was finally allowed to spin on the left wing again. “That’s where I feel most comfortable,” said the 21-year-old. When he answered questions from reporters in the mixed zone, he couldn’t stop beaming.
Ralf Weitbrecht, Sinsheim Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 95 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
“Hard work pays off,” Knauff said. “I’m happy that I was able to help the team.” Knauff seemed unleashed at the outpost. With his speed, he was able to put the Hoffenheim defense in trouble again and again. “I can now fully exploit my pace,” he said. The result of his very personal intermediate sprint is impressive.
Knauff scored a goal in the home win over Heidenheim two weeks ago, as well as now away at TSG Hoffenheim. Robin Koch, who was briefly appointed temporary captain due to Trapp’s loss, which the Frankfurt defense chief saw as a “huge honor”, said after the coup in Kraichgau: “You can see from the team that they are really up for whatever comes next.”
