Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt has made a promising start to the season. In the sovereign cup victory in Magdeburg, ex-world champion Götze convinced in the first competitive game for the Hessians.
With a big smile on his face, Mario Götze declared war on the competition after his successful competitive debut in the Eintracht Frankfurt jersey.
“We want to play as high up as possible and go far in all competitions,” announced the ex-world champion after the Europa League winner’s convincing 4-0 win in the DFB Cup at second division promoted 1. FC Magdeburg.
The first major test awaits the 2014 World Cup hero this Friday. In the opening game of the Bundesliga, Götze is reunited with his former club FC Bayern Munich, where he was never really happy. “I’m looking forward to my first home game against Bayern, it’s going to be good,” said the former Munich player.
“Dhat is the highest art”
Götze seems to have arrived quickly in Frankfurt. “It was a good decision for me, it feels good, the complete package was just good, it feels right to me,” said the 30-year-old about his move from PSV Eindhoven to Main.
In Magdeburg, the Bundesliga returnee immediately put his stamp on the Hessian game and earned a lot of praise for his performance. “Excellent, Mario has always broken up, has moved great,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner and continued to rave: “This wide-ranging view when the opponent presses and then having the solution ready is the highest art. He is someone , who sees depth even under pressure and can initiate attacks. He did that very well. I’m very happy with his debut.”
Götze looked great physically, looked well-trained, in top shape and, above all, had that playful ease on the ball again. The winning goal scorer from the 2014 World Cup final, who first made his metabolic disorder public in early 2017, appeared mentally completely clear in addition to his fitness – somehow arrived at the unity. “The coach gives me the freedom. I think I can be the missing piece of the puzzle in this system,” said Götze.
He was accordingly happy with the overall performance of the team. “We scored four goals, didn’t concede a goal – we can be very satisfied,” he said. “It’s important that we started the season with a convincing win.”
Götze sees potential for growth
Until the start of the Bundesliga against Bayern on Friday (8.30 p.m. / Sat.1 and DAZN), the midfielder still sees potential for improvement. “Overall there is always something that can be improved. We made too many simple mistakes and should have been more consistent in possession,” he said. This must be stopped. “This is important for our further development,” said Götze.
Glasner also identified some weaknesses. “What I didn’t like is that we were too prone to counterattack because we weren’t good enough in protection,” complained the 47-year-old. “It’s about details that Bayern Munich or Real Madrid exploit mercilessly.” In general, however, the Eintracht coach was able to live very well with the start of the competitive game: “The lads are not finished yet, but the willingness to keep getting better is there. Of course I’m very happy with our performance.” (dpa)