With a victory in the premier class
A win would also qualify for the first timeChampions Leaguemean – and catapult the 123-year-old traditional club to a completely new level in sporting and financial terms. “It’s blatant that you’re in the final and can get into the premier class with the Europa League victory. That’s extreme thinking,” said sporting director Markus Krösche.
It would be the preliminary culmination of a steady development in recent years since the Bundesliga relegation against 1. FC Nürnberg in 2016. This was followed in 2017 by the narrowly lost cup final against Borussia Dortmund, in 2018 by the cup triumph against Bayern Munich, in 2019 by reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League, in 2020 by advancing to the cup semi-finals and now the final on Europe’s big football stage. “Only FC Bayern was more successful during this time – and as we know, they play out of competition,” Hellmann said.
The club has already made a name for itself in Europe – above all through the legendary performance in the quarter-finals at FC Barcelona when30,000 Eintracht supporters at Camp Noucelebrated a magical football night. “We managed to get on the absolute top list in terms of perception in Europe. That is extraordinary for the club and shows that you can push boundaries, which rarely happens in international competitions,” said Hellmann.
“Get spirit on the pitch”
Now the silver pot is to be played in Seville against Glasgow Rangers. “It’s about getting our spirit on the pitch, with all the enthusiasm and passion. I want to see Eintracht Frankfurt football, like it was against West Ham United and Barcelona,” said Glasner. “If we can do that, I’m confident that there will be a positive outcome.”
That’s what the fans are hoping for, 50,000 of whom are crossing their fingers in Seville and almost 60,000 are expected for the public viewing in and in front of the Frankfurt Arena. The players have also been looking forward to the climax for weeks. “It’s one of the most beautiful and greatest things we’ve experienced so far. Everyone I deal with wishes me luck and also believes that we can do it,” said national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and promised: “We’ll do everything try to take the trophy home.”
The emotional state of his teammates is similar. “We enjoy being in the limelight like this and taking the eagle out into the world,” said captain Sebastian Rode. For BVB loanAnsgar Knauff“a dream has come true in the past six months. So many emotions, such a great run to the European Cup final and the games I was able to experience here. It’s just outstanding,” said the midfielder, emphasizing: “If we win , it gets even more historical.”
Reception on the Römer beckons
If successful, there will be a reception in Frankfurt on Thursday, which should overshadow everything that has taken place in the Main metropolis so far. Because the association determines the pulse of the city more than almost any other in Germany. “The fan culture in Frankfurt is extraordinary. You can’t put into words what would happen then,” said Trapp. Eintracht coachglazierfeels this euphoria almost every day. “I’m always out and about in the city. You can tell that somehow everyone is a Eintracht fan,” he said.