Barcelona (dpa) – The epochal coup at Camp Nou had a strong impact on Eintracht Frankfurt a short night later.
Awakened by the glorious Spanish sun, the Europa League heroes were able to indulge in unforgettable memories in the best weather: 30,000 of their own fans in the stadium, the big FC Barcelona kicked out, a all-day party celebrated and the international title firmly in sight. What sounds like a dream became reality for Hessen on Thursday. “We feel extremely good. We have achieved something historic,” said CEO Axel Hellmann.
Head coach Oliver Glasner’s furious 3-2 win will have a permanent place in Eintracht history, that’s for sure. “It was perfect the way it was,” said goalkeeper Kevin Trapp after a memorable evening that left Barça coach Xavi Hernandez battered and Frankfurters completely ecstatic and dreaming of the Seville final. On Friday, the professionals then bathed in warm temperatures in the cool Mediterranean Sea – and still looked happy and detached.
Superior support
In the semi-final duels with West Ham United (April 28 and May 5), the next big step towards the second European Cup triumph after 1980 should now be taken. “I don’t think there is a club that is able to generate so much momentum,” announced Hellmann. With the courageous appearance of the team and the outstanding support from the curve, Eintracht has collected sympathy points nationwide. The team already feels like the Europa League winners, but that’s not enough for the ambitious club.
The otherwise quiet Glasner had really blossomed in the course of the iconic triumph. As a “diver”, the 47-year-old Austrian threw himself on the lawn, Glasner described his pants, which were then destroyed, as “it doesn’t matter”. Instead, he underscored the importance of the Barcelona night for him – and will continue to do so in the future. “It’s burned into my heart forever. I’ll take these feelings with me until I’m hopefully one day higher,” said Glasner after the players and fans celebrated him extensively.
In the middle of the magic hours in the huge Camp Nou, President and chief beer drinker Peter Fischer gave the big celebration order. “Today the whole of Barcelona is in Frankfurt’s hands. Today we’re celebrating the biggest party this city has ever seen,” said Fischer, who particularly enjoyed his club’s victory over such a big world club. The president had already consumed cans of beer in the Plaça de Catalunya in the afternoon and enjoyed the spring sun before the self-proclaimed game of the century.
Now to London
The Century Games are now over, but the journey continues. Now it’s off to London, where the semi-final first leg will take place at West Ham. Board member Hellmann is already excited. “I’m expecting a real eagle invasion there and then it’s all about getting into the final. We still have a score to settle with London, with the city,” said Hellmann. In 2019, the crazy path through the Europa League at Chelsea ended in a penalty shoot-out – with the dream day including the away coup at the Camp Nou, the journey is even more crazy this time. And that regardless of what happens next.
Glasner, Hellmann, Fischer and sports director Markus Krösche unanimously gave the same direction: the final in Seville, which will be played on May 18th. This is “the clear goal,” explained Krösche. For club leader Fischer it’s not just about another attractive trip and the second title coup on the European stage. He also wants to “drink out of the damn trophy”, as he openly admitted at the celebratory reception ahead of the Barcelona second leg.
On Friday, the club had Hellmann, Fischer and the chairman of the supervisory board, Philip Holzer, send out statements again to appreciate the magnitude of the success. “The German language has no words for this evening,” said Fischer, who has heard from fans who traveled to Barcelona via Turkey or Morocco. Holzer stated: “It was certainly one of the greatest victories of the past 62 years – and in a David Goliath moment. That’s why we love the Europa League, because it creates exactly these moments.”
Lots of little stories
The nocturnal images from the stadium and the kilometer-long march to the huge football temple were unimaginable – especially in the recent past pandemic. How the crowds of fans celebrated until shortly before midnight in a foreign stadium and in a foreign city attracted a great deal of attention, even internationally.
And the many little stories: Martin Hinteregger, the tragic hero in the penalty-kick thriller against Chelsea three years ago, let himself be celebrated by the whole curve. Double goal scorer Filip Kostic wanted to force his change by going on strike in the summer and now hoisted his jersey in front of the curve, which he certainly didn’t want to wear anymore. Goalkeeper Trapp, who lost 6-1 with Paris at the Camp Nou five years ago and was now able to retaliate very late with the huge coup. It was surreal.
The top club from Catalonia, on the other hand, was well served after the next low blow. Head coach Xavi Hernandez spoke of a “planning error” because of which so many visiting fans made it to the Camp Nou. The long-time world-class kicker felt he had been deprived of his home field advantage, club president Joan Laporta said she was even ashamed of it and announced countermeasures. There was a lot of frustration when those responsible at Barça had to declare the end against a team that is behind Union Berlin or 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga.
“Our fans are the most creative when it comes to getting tickets in any way. It was like that and will always be like that,” Hellmann clarified. The run for tickets at London’s Olympic Stadium, where West Ham plays their home games, will be gigantic again.