Consistency the key as Mario Götze eyes Eintracht Frankfurt improvements
Eintracht Frankfurt's Mario Götze is ready to face former side Borussia Dortmund in what looks a not-to-be-missed clash for Bundesliga fans on the opening weekend. The Eagles' 2014 FIFA World Cup winning goalscorer chatted with bundesliga.com ahead of the new campaign, in which Eintracht will be challenging on several fronts...
bundesliga.com: A Bundesliga Matchday 1 match-up against your old side Borussia Dortmund ... what are your thoughts ahead of the game?
Mario Götze: "Not easy, of course. But for us, it’s also an opportunity to put in a good performance. We know how difficult it is there, we saw that last year. We need to be ready right from the first matchday."
bundesliga.com: There have been some changes in Dortmund: new manager, new arrivals ... how do you see them taking shape?
Götze: "Well, when you see what they achieved last year, as well as reaching the Champions League final ... that certainly takes some doing. So, the team were already sensational, with strong players. Of course, there are always changes, that’s just football nowadays. It’s the same with managers as well as players. So, yes, a sensational team who are always among the top two or top three teams in the Bundesliga. And we’re playing in Dortmund too, so it’s going to be a tough match."
bundesliga.com: Just touching briefly on last season: you got three goals and two assists. How satisfied were you with your personal performance?
Götze: "In terms of numbers, there’s definitely room for improvement. But overall, I was always fit, always healthy. I had a number of other priorities, especially in the first half of the season, like the birth of my child, and one or two other things in my private life. But on the whole, it’s important for me that my contributions were good for the team, good for the club. And I think if you look at just the Bundesliga, then finishing sixth was good. But I believe there’s definitely room for improvement, both personally and as a team and club."
bundesliga.com How did you assess the team’s performance in the end?
Götze: "If you only look at the table, then yes, absolutely fine, and qualifying for a European competition was important. I do think we had too many phases last season, though. In some phases, things went very well, but then there were times when things didn’t go so well. And I think this inconsistency in certain areas and in the results, and also in our style of play, led to the large gap that formed. But I think everyone was aware of that. In the end, we were happy to have finished sixth and to have reached the Europa League, all the while knowing, of course, that there are still some things we need to improve on."
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bundesliga.com: You also have some new teammates, for example Hugo Ekitike, who made his loan move to Eintracht permanent. Where do you see his strengths as a player?
Götze: I think he has abilities that not many players have, with his dribbling, his speed, and his finishing, so he can certainly help us a lot, as we saw last year. We just need everyone at 100 per cent so they can help the team. That goes for everyone who has played, those who are new, and those who have been around for a while. (Ekitike) is definitely an asset for the team.”
bundesliga.com: Another new addition is Can Uzun. What are your first impressions of him?
Götze: “Also very positive. He’s participated in every training session and always gives his all. You can see the qualities he has and I think we can be glad he’s with us. He definitely brings something to the team and I think he’s an exciting player.”
bundesliga.com: What are your personal/team goals for this new season?
Götze: "Personally, I think just to continue from where we left off last year, with consistent performances, staying fit, being there for the team, and perhaps adding a bit more: a bit more impact in terms of goals and assists. Just stepping it up a notch. That’s the idea for me and for the team.
"Even if you look at last year, just trying to be consistent week in and week out, especially with the Europa League and midweek matches, we need to consistently deliver strong performances and get results. I think that’s the step we need to take to say we’ve reached the next level.
"To collect more points, to have a good Europa League campaign and to go as far as possible in the DFB-Pokal as well. We know how difficult it is to perform well in three competitions over a long period. And I think that’s the challenge, and that’s also the goal for us as a team, to take it to the next level."
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