Three games to go before they win the Europa League: After the sensational victory over FC Barcelona, Eintracht Frankfurt is now up against West Ham United. The Londoners are no strangers to the SGE. There was something – and “Charly” Körbel was there. The Eintracht legend remembers and explains what is important, where the key to progress could lie.
ntv.de: Mr. Körbel, are you still thinking about the Eintracht coup from the Camp Nou, which brought Frankfurt into the semi-finals of the Europa League?
Record player in the Bundesliga and Uefa Cup winner with Eintracht Frankfurt: Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel.
(Photo: picture alliance / dpa)
Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel: (laughs). That will stay in my head forever, it was just crazy, something extraordinary! The penalty at just the right moment, then Rafael Borre’s shot to make it 2-0 – I didn’t even know the boy could shoot like that until then. And then Kostic again and suddenly Eintracht is 3-0 up against Barcelona. You’re already asking yourself: where did I come from, what’s going on here? The thing with the fans is also unique, an absolute dream. Eintracht had a home game at the Camp Nou. And so one thing led to another. In the end it was the perfect game.
Was it Eintracht’s game of the century?
Yes, but then it would have been the final and we would have had to hold up the trophy at the end. Then the game would have gone down in history. Eintracht still has a long way to go. And it won’t be easy.
West Ham United are waiting in the semifinals. There was something …
(laughs) Yes, Eintracht still has a score to settle with West Ham, admittedly a fairly old one. European Cup Winners’ Cup, 1975/1976 season, semi-finals. I was in my early 20s at the time, we first played in the Waldstadion. West Ham then made it to the final, also with luck and because there was no video referee yet. Post shot, hand goal, rain. It was something, but unfortunately the worse end for Eintracht. West Ham then blew the final against RSC Anderlecht.
And that despite the fact that Frank Lampard’s father played at West Ham at the time…
I agree! West Ham weren’t just walk-in customers then, and by the way, they aren’t now either. Seventh place in the Premier League, behind all the big names in recent years. But West Ham is one of the most popular traditional clubs on the island. The fans are legendary.
That sounds like the English Eintracht Frankfurt …
Yes, with the two teams, two absolutely traditional clubs meet: with a fan culture that is impressive. In addition, both teams are currently coming through their physicality, their aggressiveness. The games against West Ham will be very different from Eintracht’s at Camp Nou. I think that the first leg in London in particular will set the trend.
For what reason?
West Ham, like us in the Bundesliga, is rather weak at home this season. So we will have chances. If we use them, anything is possible. We just can’t let the guts be bought from us. Barcelona were surprised by our physical play. That won’t happen to West Ham, because in the Premier League healthy toughness is the norm, not the exception.
You won’t find the really big names, the superstars, at West Ham. Where are the strengths of the team?
West Ham may not have the well-known superstar like Dembélé or Aubameyang at Barça. But West Ham have a clipper in Jarrod Bowen who knows where the goal is. At the same time, the team is strong in the air and one of the best teams in the Premier League in terms of set pieces. With the Scot David Moyes there is also an experienced coach on the bench.
West Ham lost 1-0 in their last Premier League game at Chelsea.
Since Moyes has also rested a large part of the permanent staff for a long time. Like Eintracht coach Glasner, Moyes also builds on a solid base. West Ham are a well-established team. And the fact that he protects players like Bowen also shows that the club takes Eintracht seriously and doesn’t underestimate us. But the reverse is also true!
So two teams that meet at eye level?
Absolutely! I expect two completely open games, very intensive games.
And also two teams that not only want to win the trophy, but also have to?
Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel played for Eintracht Frankfurt from 1972 to 1991 and is the record player in the league with 602 Bundesliga games played. He wore the German national jersey six times. With Eintracht he won the DFB Cup four times (1974, 1975, 1981, 1988) and the Uefa Cup (1980). In the 1990s he was also on the coaching bench at Frankfurt. Today he runs the Eintracht Frankfurt football school.
West Ham still has the international ranks in their own hands, Eintracht no longer. However, it is more than 40 years since West Ham’s last title or trophy, FA Cup 1980, the same year Eintracht lifted the UEFA Cup. Both are hungry for trophies and there is pressure on both sides. Once you’re in the semifinals, you want to get to the final and then lift the trophy. And of course: For Eintracht, the possible EL victory would be the safe first participation in the Champions League, in a way the next big step for the entire club.
What’s your tip?
The odds of progressing are 50:50 (laughs). The cornerstone for progress is laid in London. Eintracht has to show their European Cup face again, which I’m sure they will, because the team is hot.
Speaking of hot: With Christian Jaikic and Evan N’Dicka, two regular players are suspended. Almamy Toure and Sebastian Rode are likely to play for it. What about Makoto Hasebe?
I can definitely imagine Hasebe playing too. His experience, his eye for the game could definitely make a difference. When he plays, however, the question remains whether in the defensive chain or as a pure six in front. I can imagine both. As a six, the midfield would be even more compact. We’ll see and keep our fingers crossed for unity!
Thomas Badtke spoke to Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel