BBefore Mario Götze moved abroad to Eindhoven for the first time in his career at the beginning of October 2020, he said about his personal new start after the difficult time at BVB: “Every player develops, just like every team and every opponent.” He will ” never again be the old Mario Götze” – those were his parting words.
The new Mario Götze, who after two years in the Netherlands had his first day of work at Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday, was the first on the training ground in the late morning. He found a seat and put on his soccer shoes. The Frankfurt king transfer denied the running laps alongside captain Sebastian Rode. After the ninety-minute session, the 2014 world champion, who was warmly welcomed by over 1,000 supporters, discussed what had been achieved with coach Oliver Glasner. It is “important to get into the system quickly in order to bring in my strengths”. Götze reported that he had discussed this with Glasner.
Götze the Frankfurt target player
Wanted and found: Götze, who had also been in contact with Eintracht before last season, was the Frankfurt target player on the internal shopping list. Before the first meeting with his advisor, Volker Struth, those responsible for Eintracht were not sure whether there would even be a realistic chance of signing the World Cup hero. But both sides found each other purposefully.
The up-and-coming Europa League winner, who is now playing the Champions League to crown it all, and Götze, who fell deeply in Dortmund at the end. When asked if this was the biggest Eintracht transfer this summer, coach Oliver Glasner replied jokingly: “Mario isn’t that tall, he’s just over 1.70 meters.” That’s why it’s 1.85 meters long Lucas Alario, who came from Leverkusen, a “much bigger transfer”.
Glasner had a “long phone call” with Götze during the summer vacation. He showed him how he could bring his strengths to bear in Frankfurt. “Mario finds himself here,” says the head coach. This applies to every newcomer, “everyone has conveyed this to us in a credible manner”. Götze, who has regained his strength in the Netherlands, likes the “all-round good package” that Eintracht offers him. The success of the past few years, coach, team and the emotional fans – “that’s a great synergy, a super combination. I think it’s good, exciting and interesting,” he said.
Glasner Götze will not grant a special role. “We will not align our style of play with Mario or anyone else.” But Götze should become the main point of reference. Claim and distribute the balls. Play clever and surprising passes to the front. The Hessians still lacked this type of player. “I want to be the piece of the puzzle that is needed.” Finding and tearing gaps in tight spaces – this is how Götze described his playful advantages, which “would lie in the last third.
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