In the weeks since the Bundesliga restart, two Japanese players, Makoto Hasebe and Daichi Kamada, have regularly been in Eintracht Frankfurt’s starting XI. While veteran Hasebe, who is now 39, still meets the highest standards in the SBU defense, midfielder Kamada has recently dropped significantly with an obvious dip in form. What’s wrong with the 26-year-old? Eintracht legend Jan-Aage Fjörtoft expressed a suspicion.
In a guest article in the “Bild” newspaper, the former Frankfurt striker suspected that Daichi Kamada could simply be outplayed after 32 competitive appearances for Eintracht and the Japanese national team.
The World Cup in Qatar in particular could have thrown the midfielder out of rhythm, said Fjörtoft: “Such a tournament can either really bring you forward, like Marcus Rashford, who is currently playing sensationally at ManUnited. Or you can fall into a hole afterwards , as it is probably at Daichi.”
The unresolved contract situation is likely to be even more decisive for the form crisis of the SGE regular player.
Almost every day, new rumors pop up in the Hessians about how things could continue for Kamada, who is free in the summer, from the 2023/2024 season. According to Fjörtoft, with all the restlessness about oneself, focusing solely on one’s own achievements is a particular challenge.
Kamada 2023 still without a Bundesliga goal for Eintracht Frankfurt
“There’s a lot of speculation about him, he’s certainly thinking a lot and is just as likely to be called by many,” said the 56-year-old, who was under contract in the Main metropolis between 1998 and 2001.
“Every once in a while we forget that football stars are normal people who need to make sure their future is settled. Most people need stability to perform. And while I don’t know Kamada personally, I think he does reacts like everyone else. He has to find himself again, also for himself. Because he has to play well to find a new good club,” added Fjörtoft.
After Kamada was considered the most prolific midfielder in the Bundesliga with seven goals until the World Cup break, he has not yet scored a single goal for Eintracht in the 2023 calendar year.