With all that he has found his way back into the starting eleven on game day and is really showing that his speed and aggressive play are a much needed thing within the team. On a very cold spring day just before training I had the chance to get a few minues of his time and ask him a few questions for the newsletter. Hope you enjoy it.
Tim Harris: Hello, Thanks for your time. Ok Two years with Eintracht Frankfurt and allot of health issues, how is your health now?
Umit Korkmaz: My health right now is very good. The first year I was with the team I did not have allot of luck and to break the same foot back to back did not help things very much. But I am healthy now, and feel very good and am happy to be contributing to the team’s success.
TH: Do you have any idea what contributed to your foot breaking so easily or what was causing you to have all the injuries?
UK: I think it was to over doing it. With me playing the European Cup with the Austrian National team and all the training leading up to that then trying to show that I should be playing for Frankfurt and the Bundesliga, I just think it was too much stress on my body at the time and allot of bad luck
TH: What made you want to come to the Bundesliga to play? Did you have other offers to go elsewhere?
UK: Sure I had a few offers but I felt like Frankfurt was a good fit for me and to have a chance to play in the German Bundesliga which is one of the top leagues in Europe, I thought I was lucky to have that chance and I felt I should use it.
TH: So how do you feel within the team now? You seem to be playing a bigger role starting in many games now.
UK: Yeah before I was always a substitute player and having all the injuries did not help me any. But when I was given the chance and I remained injury free I took my opportunities to give 100% and show not only the trainers and team members but also the fans that I belong in the starting eleven and so far it has worked for me and I am having fun doing it.
TH: Ok so you had time with trainers Skibbe and Funkel. What are the biggest differences you see in the two?
UK: They both are two very different trainers but both very good in their way. Skibbe is more offensive and demands that we use our teammates to make plays. He likes to see good passes but also fast playing. Funkel was more defensive and about holding our ground on the field.
TH: It seems to me you guys have more fun in training with Skibbe? Allot of laughing and making jokes. Do you feel that the attitude amongst the team is good?
UK: Sure we have fun but that does not mean we are not taking it serious or that we are taking training lightly. Skibbe ensures we stay focused while also demanding allot from us. And you know football is supposed to be fun. Yes it is a job but if we are having fun and enjoying it then it will show on game day and I think our place in the Bundesliga Table shows that.
TH: How do you feel how the season has gone so far?
UK: I would have liked to have played more in the beginning but I think as a whole we have had a very good season. It has been a long time since Eintracht has done this well and I think as a team we deserve it. We work hard and we have tried to show that every time we have a game.
TH: So what are differences between playing in the Bundesliga and in Austria?
UK: The German Bundesliga is a lot harder and faster. And the quality of play is so much better in the Bundesliga because some of the best players in the world are playing here which gives you more options to have the quality of play that people want to see.
TH: So your first home game in Frankfurt were you surprised of the atmosphere in the stadium?
UK: Well during the European Cup we played in front of 50,000 fans so I was use to the number of people but the Frankfurt fans in my first game I played in I believe in Frankfurt was against Bayer Leverkusen was unbelievable.
TH: So I read you were back as a member of the Austrian National team, did I read correctly?
UK: It is not official and things change so fast, I hope I am part of the team when we play a friendly against Croatia in May but all I can do is to keep giving 100% and hope that I get the chance to play for the national team again.
TH: When everything would go the way you would want it what would you like to see happen at the end of you contract with Frankfurt in 2012? Where do you see yourself then?
UK: When I stay healthy and I can play a lot of games and I am able to show that I am good for the Bundesliga then I would like to stay here and continue but you know you never know what will happen from one week to the next, I just have to make sure that I keep doing what I have to do to keep playing and then we will see what the future brings.
TH: So your biggest thing is to finally stay injury free correct? I can see you bring another style of play when you are on the field.
UK: That is all any player can hope for is to stay healthy, give their best, score many goals and enjoy the success you hope to bring to your team.
TH: Ok I know you have to get ready for training so I would like to know if you have a personal message for the fans who receive this newsletter?
UK: Well I am just glad to know we have fans from all over the world and I think the idea of the newsletter which helps to keep people who are not able to follow the team because they are outside of Germany is great. I would like to thank them for their support and I want them to know we could not do what we do without them.
