In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, board spokesman Axel Hellmann emphasized the paramount importance of the Europa League quarter-finals against FC Barcelona for Frankfurt's Eintracht.

"This pairing is the biggest imaginable one I can take part in in my Eintracht life," said the 50-year-old board member.

"Our president Peter Fischer is right when he says these games are the biggest since the 1960 European Cup final against Real Madrid."

Peter Hess

sports editor.

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This is not just Fischer's and his feelings, but that of the people in Frankfurt and the entire region.

Hellmann reports on a birthday party in Frankfurt's urban society, in which there was only one topic - unity against Barcelona.

"I would have liked to put a sign around my neck: I don't sell tickets".

Over 250,000 orders have been received for the home game on April 7, and 48,500 visitors are allowed into the arena.

Up to 35,000 Frankfurt fans in Barcelona

The second leg in Barcelona a week later also causes great enthusiasm among the fans, with up to 35,000 Frankfurt supporters expected at the Camp Nou stadium.

Hellmann tells of fans who interrupt their holidays in Namibia and Mauritius to fly to Barcelona.

"A mother scolded me that unity was spoiling family vacations."

In terms of sport, the roles are clearly divided: "It's the David versus Goliath game par excellence." Eintracht is the David who is loved because he rates the Europa League competition highly and through his sensational 2018/19 campaign, which lasted until the led to the semi-finals.

"On the other side is the Goliath, who just turns up his nose and asks: What am I actually doing here?

Where am I?

And when I then hear that a senior FC Barcelona official approached my colleague Philipp Reschke during the draw and then asked him: "Frankfurt, Frankfurt, do you have a stadium in Frankfurt?" Then it becomes clear that Frankfurt is on the map of Barcelona does not exist at all.”

From this constellation, Hellmann sees a real outsider chance against the five-time Champions League winner.

"Obviously Barcelona are the better team, but if they underestimate us and we all come together, then there is a chance.

But it only works if every time we win the ball, the crowd celebrates it enthusiastically and every ball contact is mercilessly whistled at by Barcelona.

It's the only chance we have to go into the second leg with a good result.” Eintracht will look for their chance with vigor and not freeze in awe.

Hellmann sets a good example: “We are planning to reach the semi-finals.

We don't plan to drop out.” Even if the surprise didn't pan out: “We can only win.” The board spokesman even says he has already won.

"This national and international attention, but above all the electrification and emotionalisation of the region is like an awakening after two years of the Corona crisis.

This is clearly noticeable.

One could not have wished for better that this initial spark is now on the table.”

Eintracht hit hard by the pandemic

In the interview, which will appear in the Saturday edition of the FAZ and online at FAZ.NET, Hellmann reports how hard the pandemic has hit Eintracht.

“We were bursting with economic strength before Corona.

Now we will report an operating loss of over 70 million euros by June 30, 2022.” This means that equity will have shrunk to between seven and twelve million euros, depending on how far Eintracht gets in the Europa League and where they are ends the Bundesliga season.

"This equity ratio is not a basis for going into next winter." Eintracht is considering either reducing costs or increasing equity again through special measures.

"We're discussing that right now and we'll decide in the summer what we're going to do."

Eintracht suffered more from Corona than many other clubs, at times he found the situation threatening to exist, and even now the fears are not entirely over.

All in all, Hellmann is proud of how Eintracht dealt with the difficult situation.

"However, it is different with the associations, where I also got the impression that some live in a kind of cloud cuckoo land without traction.

That annoyed a lot of people.

Many politicians have told me that they don't want to step into the breach for an industry while the DFB is constantly involved in tax investigations."

The fact that the DFB used its energy to disparage the opponent in its own body tied forces that would have been better used to alleviate the worries and hardships of football during the pandemic.

"I'm very happy that it's continuing with consistently new protagonists because, in my opinion, none of the old ones deserve to remain on the DFB's executive committee.

Rarely have I welcomed a new beginning so much.” The aim of Eintracht is to exert more influence on football policy.

National and international.

Hellmann explained his basic willingness to work in associations.