Frankfurt / Main (dpa) – For Eintracht Frankfurt’s supervisory board boss Philip Holzer, repeated entry into the semi-finals of the Europa League is worth more than the one-time qualification for the premier class.
“Because a win in the Europa League counts just as much as a win in the Champions League. And this UEFA coefficient ranking results in long-term plannable income for our club,” said Holzer to the “kicker”. This is “more important for the planning than the one-off effect of a Champions League participation”. A title in the Europa League would bring the premier class ticket directly, otherwise there is a risk of a year without international competition.
The Hessians will play the first leg of the semi-finals at West Ham United on April 28 (9 p.m. / RTL). He looks “with total anticipation” at the games, said Holzer. “The team will give everything again, under new signs and with the same spirit. Despite this, West Ham will be much, much more difficult than Barcelona.”
In the quarter-finals, Eintracht had thrown the world club from Spain out of the competition. There were over 25,000 Eintracht fans in the stadium for the 3-2 win in the second leg at Camp Nou. “The images from Barcelona will last forever. 30,000 people in the city and most of them in the stadium: peaceful, celebrating and emotional. As a fan, I’ll take that with me forever,” said Holzer. Significantly stricter access regulations are expected for the guest performance in London.