Armed with Colombian striker Rafael Porret, Eintracht Frankfurt prepare to crush Seville’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan stadium in Wednesday’s Europa League final as they aim to overcome the Scottish Rangers, the latest hurdle on their way to winning their first title. since 1980.
Frankfurt want to face the Scottish giants in their alternate white jerseys because it is now a good luck charm after the players wore it during a surprise win over Barcelona and West Ham in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
Eintracht board spokesman Axel Hellmann insists: “We have to play with white. We shocked Europe with whites. We are Pestia Blanca” (“White Monster”).
Hellmann expects around 50,000 fans from Frankfurt to visit a Seville “like the city has never seen before”, expecting “a unique final and a unique confrontation”.
Glasgow Rangers is a legend for us. Playing against Rangers has always been our club’s dream.”
Eintracht Frankfurt had previously beaten Rangers 6–1 and 6–3 in the semi-final of the European Cup (the European Champions League competition with its old name) in 1960, but lost to Real Madrid 7–3 in the final. a match that was taking place in Glasgow at the time.
– Boré, a Hispanic weapon –
Frankfurt will be armed in this final, the first for the German club since it won the UEFA Cup in 1980 against compatriot Borussia Dortmund with a Hispanic player in Seville.
“Personally it was a great year and I never expected to get so much experience with this club. I am really happy to be a part of this success,” Porret told Eintracht in Spanish.
The 26-year-old arrived from Argentine club River Plate to replace Andre Silva, who scored 28 league goals last season before leaving for Leipzig.
However, after initially struggling to prove himself in the Bundesliga, Borre scored two of the most important goals in the club’s history.
– Dream goal at Camp Nou –
A fine long-range right-footed kick from 25 meters away at Camp Nou, the ball hit the ceiling of the German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, a goal that gave Frankfurt a 3-2 victory. over Barcelona in his own home and secured his place in the semi-finals by winning 4-3 on aggregate at home and away.
“The goal against Barcelona helped both me personally and the whole team. It was a real blow to Barcelona,” Porret added.
“He was the wind that moved my sails until the end of the match. I am very grateful for this,” added the Colombian.
After that, he broke the deadlock to achieve a difficult win in a difficult 1–0 home semi-final against West Ham and a 3–1 win on aggregate to take Frankfurt to their first European final in 42 years.
“I will never forget the support of the fans,” Poirier said, referring to the lively atmosphere of the semi-final match at home.
“The atmosphere on the field was fiery. I talked about it with several teammates and we agreed that we need it. Support lifts spirits in the weakest moments.”
“The final will be great, Frankfurt and Rangers fought hard to get there and we should enjoy it,” Porry added.
The Colombian has developed a good rapport with Frankfurt strikers Ansgar Knauf and Serb Filip Kostic.
That understanding was translated into a goal after a cross from Borret in London’s Olympic Park, which Knauf countered with a header that gave Eintracht Frankfurt the lead less than a minute later in the first leg of the semi-final against West Ham.
Knauf returned the cross and Puri scored the winning goal in the second leg.
“With every match we understand each other better,” Porre said. “Ansgar has integrated into the team very quickly and the whole team is showing good stability on the pitch.”
– No second chance –
Porret impressed Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner, who is coaching Frankfurt in his first season.
“He’s very important in our game because he has a great mentality, he works hard for the team. He’s having a great season,” Glasner said.
But that doesn’t mean the Rangers will be in the final. This is due to the fact that the Scottish club, which finished second in the European Cup in 2008, also reached this final at the expense of the German team Leipzig.
After losing the first leg 1-0, Rangers beat Leipzig 3-1 in the second leg thanks to goals from James Tavernier, Finn Glenn Kamara and John Lundstram.
But this time there will be no other chance and the decision will be in Seville.
Source: El Iktisad