2016-05-24 13:06:13
Nichtabstiegsfeier
The Frankfurt players celebrated relegation. Photo: Timm Schamberger
(Photo: dpa)
The redeeming 1:0 On the way home they had celebrated the deserved success in the knockout games for the million-dollar Bundesliga membership in the team bus, after arriving in Frankfurt at three in the morning the whole burden of the successfully mastered team fell on the coach Niko Kovac struggle for existence. “All’s well that ends well,” the Croatian summed up. “I’m very happy and I can’t even put it into words.”
The redeeming 1-0 (0-0) at 1. FC Nürnberg not only marked the happy end of a messed-up season, but also the beginning of the much-needed clean-up work. “The season must be analyzed critically,” said the outgoing CEO Heribert Bruchhagen to his designated successor Fredi Bobic.
Eintracht will have to do a few things better in the future in order not to experience such a shaky season again. Youth work and transfer policy are just two of the construction sites on which the new strong man on the board is required.
Kovac also has a lot of work to do. The former Bundesliga professional was the right man at the right time in the relegation battle, awakening emotions and fighting spirit in the players who had previously fallen into lethargy. Now the 44-year-old has to show that he is capable of developing a team. He has the trust of the club management, the players and the fans.
At the moment of rescue, however, the great feelings initially prevailed. “After 13 years of Eintracht Frankfurt, it would have been fatal in my opinion if a second division team had been handed over. It would also have been unfair, because this club is completely intact,” Bruchhagen said.
“We didn’t feel like playing in the second division,” said striker Haris Seferovic, who scored Eintracht with his decisive goal (66th minute) in the second leg to a happy ending. “We deserve it. We fought until it was no longer possible,” said the Swiss. Alexander Meier summarized: “We got the curve”.
The Frankfurters also dedicated the away win to Marco Russ. Even before the team won, the missing substitute captain had celebrated an even more important success. The defender had surgery on a tumor on Monday, followed the match in bed and congratulated his teammates that night. “Thank you guys!!! Those believed dead live longer!! Here’s to you!!!” he wrote on Instagram. He informed coach Kovac and his colleagues about the successful operation via SMS.
It is an open question whether the defense chief can help shape the new start after the fall into the second division, which he had avoided with great difficulty. His full recovery is a priority. What is clear, however, is that the squad urgently needs to be refreshed. Especially in the back right and on the offensive, it was worryingly stuck in the past season. “In the two games, the team has forgotten the season,” said Kovac.
The fact that the pugnacious Seferovic became the savior after almost half a year without scoring made Kovac visibly satisfied. “He’s a player who polarizes, with whom I personally – that’s a harsh word – go to war, he’s a warrior,” the coach praised the Swiss national player.
The 180 minutes against Nuremberg had also hit Kovac hard. He therefore pleaded for the abolition of the relegation. “In terms of nerves, what the players and the coaches suffer and endure here, it is immeasurable,” he said. “It’s borderline.” The desire to experience a season in Frankfurt without any trembling, fear and strife could not be ignored.
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