René Kurfürst and his team have been in charge of the Eintracht Frankfurt podcast for twelve years. Since then he has experienced a lot with Eintracht: Bundesliga relegation, thrilling relegation games, the DFB Cup victory and exciting Europa League evenings.
But the highlight of his fan existence follows on Wednesday when Eintracht Frankfurt meets Glasgow Rangers in the Europa League final (9 p.m. in the live ticker from FOCUS Online).
In an interview with FOCUS Online, Kurfürst talks about the joy that Eintracht does not meet RB Leipzig in the final, his own tension before the big final, the lack of defense chief Martin Hinteregger
FOCUS Online: Mr. Kurfürst, just before the biggest game in recent club history: Are you already a nervous wreck?
René Kurfürst: To this day, I was able to distract myself with work or household chores. After the many pictures of fans on site, chats with friends and acquaintances, the increasing reporting and the preparation for our podcast recording tomorrow, nervous wrecks are quite good.
The 3-2 quarter-final win against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou was a real rush of happiness for all Eintracht fans. Can the finale top these emotions at all?
Of course. After losing to Chelsea in 2019, we all thought, ‘That’s it. We’ll never get any closer to an international cup final again.” And now we’re in one and could play in the Champions League next season. Something you as a Eintracht fan might have achieved in a Football Manager on the PC, but in reality, until last season, hoped for at most easy. Ok, after writing this paragraph at the latest I’m at the end of my nerves.
50,000 Frankfurt and 70,000 Scottish fans are expected in Seville. Does it get any better for a football fan? The trappings alone explode almost all dimensions…
I would assume that there will be more on both sides and the game, the fans and both teams deserve that.
A word about the opponent: Are you happy that Rangers won their semi-final against RB Leipzig and that there is an international duel?
2000 percent. There would not have been this euphoria against Leipzig. It would have felt like a Bundesliga game with more meaning and you would have been much more afraid of the result.
What do the Frankfurt fans have planned for the day in Seville? Please take us with you…
The tension in Seville will be huge. It will be loud and happy. I’m assuming a fan march and a big choreo again this time. It will be no different for Rangers fans. It will also get louder in the stadium. The games against Barca and West Ham were just dress rehearsals.
Eintracht is experiencing a real hype at the moment. The whole of football Germany loves this self-sacrificing team. What makes this team so special on the European stage?
For me, the biggest difference is that both the team and the fans take the international competition seriously and absorb it with every fiber of their being. It’s not common for us. International successes are a long time ago. In 2016 we were still in relegation, we experienced relegations and cemented leagues. Everyone is afraid that it could be the last time on the international stage, so they really have to step on the gas. That takes everyone.
Martin Hinteregger will miss the final due to a thigh injury. How serious is the absence of the chief of defense and can Hinteregger be adequately replaced? And in general, how bitter is it that such a fan icon of all people cannot be there?
It would have been a great story, there’s no question about that. Nevertheless, Hinti (editor’s note: nickname of Martin Hinteregger) will be there. He won’t miss the event. Tuta has excelled at the position in recent games and we’ll do the same this time. In the end, everyone will be extremely committed, no matter who plays where. It’s just this one game.
How’s it going in the end?
I’m hoping for a 3-1 win for us and then we’ll celebrate until the new season.
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Eintracht Frankfurt – Glasgow Rangers
05/18/2022 | 9:00 p.m
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