Markus, was deadline day as calm as you’d hoped?
“I think so, because we arranged and concluded a lot of transfers earlier in the year so that we didn’t have as many acute issues. Unexpected things can always happen, but even with players like Pacho it was kind of expected that there’d be interest. We were able to present a replacement quickly with Arthur Theate, which we’re very happy about. On top of that there were loan deals for players who need more playing time than we can currently offer them, so we’re pretty pleased.”
Soon after the injury to Højlund came the signing of Dahoud – when did this transfer really start to materialise?
“We were already interested in Mo last year. He brings a lot of experience, particularly in the Bundesliga but also in Europe. We’ve been constantly looking at the holding midfield position and which qualities could benefit us. Oscar Højlund has a very dynamic profile and was doing well, but unfortunately got injured. Mo has the experienced required, can be the deep-lying playmaker and direct the tempo of the game. It was clear that if we were to bring in someone else for the defensive midfield, it would be someone of the playmaker type who can play through the press.”
I see a really exciting team with a lot of potential and players who have already proven themselves at a high level.
Board member for sport Markus Krösche
Why did Omar Marmoush end up staying?
“First of all, because Omar feels completely happy here. He knows what he has in us. After an excellent first season like the one he had with us, interest from other clubs is normal. He’s earned a certain status with us and among the fans through his performances. There was a concrete offer at the end, but Omar made a clear commitment to us and will continue to wear the Eintracht shirt.”
How do you rate the current squad?
“We’ve managed to get a balance between technique and physicality. Particularly in the defence, we’ve gained robustness and experience. We’ve also got a good mix of young players with potential and seasoned pros at a good age for footballers. The squad possesses a lot of speed and versatility, and as mentioned, we had the majority of the squad together at the start of pre-season. I see a really exciting team with a lot of potential and players who have already proven themselves at a high level.”
