It’s “crazy,” says Eintracht newcomer Younes Ebnoutalib, referring to his rise from regional league player to Bundesliga professional within a year. On Friday against Dortmund, the striker will even be in the starting eleven, as a possible competitor is still not there.
And suddenly the ball whizzed past him, Robin Koch turned around and cursed to himself. There’s no such thing as this missile – it can’t be defended, it can’t be parried. The opposing striker had already done that excellently. Accepted the ball with his back to the goal, pushed the ball out and thus pushed Eintracht captain Koch away, turned it on its own axis and slammed it under the crossbar with a powerful blow. Worth seeing.
Younes Ebnoutalib has arrived at Eintracht Frankfurt. The attacker, signed by second division club SV Elversberg before the turn of the year with the recommendation of twelve goals this season, made a decent impression on Monday at the first training session of the year that was open to the media. Neat because the 22-year-old definitely didn’t decline, but rather stood out positively here and there. “I’m just proud, it’s an honor to be here and play for your own city,” said the Frankfurt native in an introductory press conference two hours later. Everything was “very exciting” in the first few days, “but the guys are all correct.”
“It’s great to soon be playing against world stars”
Now it should be clearly stated that the sequence described at the beginning, which was followed by a dusting hit from the attacker, must under no circumstances be exaggerated. Because Ebnoutalib, who calls his strengths “finishing, speed dribbling and physicality”, did not stand out too much from the crowd of 28 professional footballers, which did not include the injured Jonathan Burkardt, Elias Baum, Michy Batshuayi and Timothy Chandler as well as the sick Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and the vacationing Ellyes Skhiri.
And yet he can have legitimate hopes for his first first league appearance on Friday (8.30 p.m.) in the home game against Borussia Dortmund. “I feel ready – and want to be ready,” said Ebnoutalib, who ordered 15 tickets for family and friends from the club. That’s a really special story, the one about the true Frankfurt boy in the service of Eintracht. Plus this sporting rocket rise from the regional league at FC Gießen to the Bundesliga within a year.
“It’s amazing,” summarized the newcomer, “to soon be playing against world stars.” He will try to keep his emotions in check, but tears cannot be ruled out. “That can happen,” said Ebnoutalib with a big grin on his face. Someone is full of euphoria.
Ronaldo and Barkok as role models
The 1.88 meter man, who calls Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymen Barkok (“Inspirational Person”), who also grew up in Frankfurt’s northwestern city, as his sporting role models, was one of five newcomers to the practice field on Monday. Also left-back Keita Kosugi, attacker Keito Kumashiro (mainly planned for the second team), midfield talent Love Arrhov and right wing Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab introduced themselves to the media people at the ball for the first time. However, reliable analyzes should be avoided as far as possible, as the impressions were still quite limited.
In general, it was the old friends who set the tone. In the literal sense, of course, Dino Toppmöller, the coach, who gave the instructions wrapped up in a hat and scarf and was actually only drowned out by Rasmus Kristensen. The Danish right-back, one of the few people wearing shorts, freaked out several times. Once after a mistake of his own, another time when, in his opinion, the entire back team acted too carelessly. Kristensen screamed, waved her arms and screamed even louder. One of them was running really hot in sub-zero temperatures.
Kalimuendo deal still not fixed
Meanwhile, Can Uzun was particularly impressive with his feet. The offensive designer, sorely missed in late autumn and early winter, scored goal after goal – sometimes simply with the inside into the corner, sometimes spectacularly into the corner. It is important for the team that Uzun is fit again and should return to the starting eleven against Dortmund.
And otherwise? “There’s always pressure in competitive sport,” said Ebnoutalib, who was signed for around eight million euros, “but I’m just happy and enjoying the time.” The new addition will soon face further internal competition. Arnaud Kalimuendo of Nottingham Forest is known to be about to move to Frankfurt. It is said that Eintracht is in agreement with the French attacker. However, the Frankfurt team have not yet been able to announce the transfer as fixed.
