DFB Cup
From Glasner to Nkunku: Five protagonists of the cup final
Frankfurt’s Mario Götze (l) and Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku fight for the ball. Photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
Do Nkunku and Kolo Muani advertise themselves? Does Glasner say goodbye with a title? And why the former World Cup hero Mario Götze could celebrate twice on Saturday.
One final, numerous protagonists: Before the DFB Cup final between RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt this Saturday (8 p.m. / ZDF and Sky), the focus is not only on the stars around Christopher Nkunku. An outgoing coach and a previously untitled head of sports also play key roles in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Five faces ahead of the final of the 80th edition of the DFB Cup:
Oliver Glasner: For just two years as head coach of Eintracht, Glasner took almost everything with him. The European Cup victory and the Champions League premiere were followed by a sporting crisis, which first led to discord and angry speeches and then to separation. Frankfurt wants to say goodbye to Glasner by winning the cup, the Austrian could say goodbye with two titles. It’s unclear where he’s going after that.
Christopher Nkunku: Top Scorer, Footballer of the Year, Star of the League. Nkunku has achieved pretty much everything in the past two years and is now looking to finish with a shine. A move to Chelsea has long been negotiated, but a back door could open for Leipzig. Since the London club missed out on the Champions League, there is speculation about a one-year loan to Leipzig.
Randal Kolo Muani: The Frenchman arrived as a challenger to Rafael Borré in the summer of 2022 and has become a budding superstar in nine months. Kolo Muani’s contract with Eintracht is valid until the summer of 2027. The top international clubs are already lurking with transfer fees of more than 100 million euros. Kolo Muani leaves his future open. There is much to suggest that the cup final will be his last competitive game for Hessen.
Max Eberl: The sports director started his job last December to finally win titles. Eberl can start with that on Saturday. In addition, from the RB point of view, a clear commitment to the club would be desirable. The 49-year-old is under discussion alongside Markus Krösche as sports director at Bayern Munich. In contrast to his Frankfurt colleague, Eberl has so far refrained from making a public denial.
Mario Götze: The former World Cup hero Götze has not contested a particularly large number of finals since the summer of 2014. Last year he won the national cup with Eindhoven, the final in the DFB Cup will probably be Götze’s biggest game since Rio almost nine years ago. Despite the changeable second half of the season, he has become a regular at Eintracht. If Frankfurt wins, Götze has two reasons to celebrate: he will be 31 on Saturday.