Songs in fan curves can also be imaginative at times. The supporters of Eintracht Frankfurt, who are known for their vocal power, intoned a whole potpourri of different melodies with a wide variety of contents from the north-west curve, which is currently being renovated – a grandstand for 20,000 people is to be built here soon – during the safe 3-0 home win against Hertha BSC. First, the obligatory longing for the second championship after 1959 was sung (“German champion is only the SGE”), then the crash of the capital club was mocked (“Hey, what’s going on – Hertha is finally descending”) before a song was invented , which suited this match best: a song of praise for the double goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani (21st / foul penalty and 28th).
On the song “No Limit” of the successful in the 90s Eurodance Duos “2 Unlimited” “Kolo, Kolo” was often warbled, followed by a long drawn-out Muani. This version roared through the city forest in an endless loop. “Hearing it was a great feeling. I will work hard so that I can hear it more often,” said Kolo Muani, who is currently pushing his own limits upwards on a weekly basis.
One goal each in the away games at SC Freiburg and FC Bayern (1:1) was followed by his Bundesliga goals eight and nine. In this respect, in addition to the hymns of praise from his trainer Oliver Glasner (“He has everything: speed, ease, final strength, self-confidence”), the song of praise for the curve came at the right time.
The French World Cup runner-up impresses in the new year with greater efficiency than before the World Cup break. It is well known that he combines speed and suppleness, technique, elegance and commitment. However, after his big chance in the last minute of the World Cup final against Argentinian Emiliano Martínez, who was voted best goalkeeper in the World Cup for that reason, he was not sure for a long time whether this scene would perhaps set him back. The opposite seems to be the case. “Of course it was a setback,” Kolo Muani said on Saturday night, “but it helped me get stronger.”
Hertha BSC makes the next desolate appearance for long stretches
The 24-year-old, who switched from FC Nantes to the Bundesliga free of charge before the season, has long been considered a Eintracht professional with huge promises of returns, but sporting director Markus Krösche does not want to give up his storm jewel in the summer. Kolo Muani, who has been described by all sides as down-to-earth, has just left his MDC Advisors agency to be represented by his family and ex-professional Moussa Sissoko (who advises Barcelona player Ousmane Dembélé, among others). You don’t have to assume too much behind it, he explained with a big grin: “I now have the family that takes care of everything.”
For Eintracht he gave the difference player again. First he won a penalty against the clumsy Filip Uremovic, which he converted just as confidently as his attempt in the penalty shoot-out in the World Cup final. In addition, Frankfurt’s number nine used a pass from Jesper Lindström to make the decision, before Aurélio Buta, who had moved up, made the final score (90+3).
“You need rest in the club.”: What Hertha BSC coach Sandro Schwarz would like to have will probably not come to his club anytime soon.
(Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)
Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz searched almost desperately for positive aspects afterwards, which of course wasn’t easy after the fourth loss in a row. For long stretches, his ensemble had made the next desolate appearance, which fit seamlessly into the sadness since the restart. The fact that the pale new signing Florian Niederlechner later revealed that the coach had appealed to the players’ honor during the half-time break spoke volumes. The football teacher, who lives with his family in Frankfurt, suggested following the first rule for the relegation battle: “You need rest in the club.”
There was no question of that last week after the surprising separation from the hapless managing director Fredi Bobic, especially since the new sporting director Sebastian Winter (“The days were intense, beautiful and busy, with little sleep”) was not as active on the transfer market as some Competitor in the table cellar. Schwarz recommended ticking off “the wild week” – and again developing a “huge desire for performance” in daily interaction. Basically, he will “not question the quality of the squad”. That all sounds respectable for the 44-year-old, but in this staid condition, the Berlin dive will definitely lead to second-class status.
Kevin-Prince Boateng, who was whistled at by the Eintracht attachment after his substitution to his own incomprehension, also suspected this. “There are too many games from which we don’t take anything. We’re really in the shit,” said the part-time worker, who led Eintracht to the cup win in his hometown in 2018. Boateng urgently appealed to Hertha “not to talk about the coach now, but every player has to look in the mirror himself”. The 35-year-old wished that one or the other of his colleagues would “put more gas, fight more”. He himself, said Boateng, “doesn’t sleep well”. Actually, he would have thought that last season was the most difficult of his eventful career. That could still turn out to be a mistake. For the rescue in the remaining 15 matchdays he could only think of the following: “Whoever plays has to give his life!”