Mario Götze Commends Albert Riera After Frankfurt’s Victory

omidbasir- German football legend Mario Götze offered high praise for Eintracht Frankfurt’s new head coach, Albert Riera, following the team’s convincing 3-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga last Saturday. This outcome stood in stark contrast to Riera’s lackluster debut the previous week, showcasing a significant turnaround in performance despite the challenges posed by injuries sustained during the match.

Lead striker Aranud Kalimuendo was forced to leave the game early due to injury in the 17th minute. To adapt, Götze and Kalimuendo’s replacement, Mahmoud Dahoud, alternated in the role of false nine. Remarkably, the hosts managed to secure three goals despite Kalimuendo’s early exit, with winger Jean-Matteo Bahoya, who has struggled this season, stepping up to provide two assists. Star January signing Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab also contributed with a stunning goal.

However, Götze expressed some concerns regarding the match dynamics, noting that Gladbach controlled significant portions of the second half. While Amaimouni-Echghouyab and Nathaniel Brown had already delivered quality goals in the first half, the third goal only came following a critical error by Gladbach’s center-back Kota Takai. Speaking to Sky Germany after the match, Götze conveyed his mixed feelings about the victory.

“To be honest, the 3-0 scoreline didn’t feel entirely decisive,” Götze remarked. “Gladbach performed well aside from the goals. We lacked sufficient control during the game, particularly with the ball, indicating that we have much room for improvement.”

Nonetheless, Götze acknowledged Riera’s coaching abilities. “He’s a very good coach,” he stated. “He has taught us a lot in a short period, and the way we have played since his arrival has been commendable. Although we still have numerous areas to work on, his adjustments have been beneficial, and I believe we are on the right track.”

GGFN | Peter Weis