Mahir Emreli was supposed to strengthen 1. FC Kaiserslautern’s offensive, but has not been on the pitch for FCK since matchday 3. His sporting future with the Red Devils is currently open.
It was a dream wedding. But reality – i.e. the everyday life of the football business – quickly caught up with the relationship between Mahir Emreli and the FCK. Emreli should take the next step in his career at FCK. After stints at Legia Warsaw and Dinamo Zagreb as well as 1. FC Nürnberg, the 28-year-old Azerbaijani was proud of his commitment to 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Transfer with high expectations
“1. FC Kaiserslautern is a big club, I already knew FCK before I came to Germany to play football. When I played with Nürnberg here in the stadium last season, I soaked up the atmosphere, the energy of the fans – that was impressive and played a big role in my decision to move to FCK. I can’t wait to get started. I want to give my best and do my part to achieve our goals,” said Mahir Emreli last June when he moved to FCK.
discontent on both sides
Eleven match days in the 2nd Bundesliga are now over and Emreli was only on the pitch in the first three of them. His last mission was in the 1:2 defeat of FCK in Elversberg. Logically, dissatisfaction is growing – on both sides. The player makes no secret of the fact that he wants more playing time. There has already been a discussion with coach Torsten Lieberknecht, who made it clear that he is not satisfied with Emreli’s training performance. But Lieberknecht didn’t write off the striker. “Like everyone here at FCK, he has the chance to fight his way back into the team and then show his value. I’m trying to protect him,” claims the coach.
Idiosyncratic character
Emreli wasn’t really a regular player in his previous positions either. This may have been due to injuries or to fluctuations in form. But he is also said to have a not-so-simple character. Nuremberg’s coach Miroslav Klose is said to have had problems with the Azerbaijani’s idiosyncrasies. But it is also a fact: when he got his chance in Nuremberg, he scored an impressive seven goals in the last six games. With this record, he came to Kaiserslautern on a free transfer and had a lot of praise in his luggage.
Speculation about changes during the winter break
Emreli, in the form of his advisor Mateusz Ojog, denies rumors that his time at FCK could end during the winter break and that he is considering another move. As well as some background noise that leaves room for speculation. Emreli recently liked on Instagram the penalty goal of his former Nuremberg teammate Robin Knoche, who scored the equalizer against FCK. A provocation or a petitesse that was blown up by the tabloid media, as his advisor thinks? However. In any case, other headlines would be better. But for that to happen, Mahir Emreli has to give it his all again and show performance. On the pitch. Otherwise, the once dream wedding could end in a quick divorce.
