The longing for a new Filip Kostic is still great among Eintracht fans. Since the Serb left Frankfurt in the summer of 2022, no one has played as influential a role on the left sideline as the Serb. When Niels Nkounkou scored the equalizer in Kostic’s style last August on his very first appearance for Eintracht against 1. FC Köln to make the final score 1-1, hopes were raised that they had found the successor to the Eintracht crowd favorite.
The disappointment was all the greater when, in the weeks and months that followed, the now 23-year-old Frenchman took on a very manageable role in the Frankfurt game. If a murmur went through the stadium, it was hardly because of a dashing dribble or an accurate cross or a powerful shot on goal. More likely if Nkounkou had lost the ball again or lost a duel due to his inexperienced positional play and thereby created a dangerous situation. There was quick talk of a bad purchase.
Sports director Markus Krösche, who is responsible for the 7.5 million euro transfer fee to the French second division club AS St. Etienne, reassured the critics at the time. The talent still needs time to get used to, he doesn’t doubt his abilities. And he seems to be right – the last three Eintracht goals all came from impressive crosses from the left wing player. Two goals in stoppage time brought an unexpected 2-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the end of the year, Ansgar Knauff’s 1-0 win last Saturday ensured Frankfurt’s first Bundesliga win at RB Leipzig.
“Videos don’t lie”
“I have never given an assist like that before,” said Nkounkou on Tuesday after the start of the training week before the derby against Darmstadt 98 this Saturday (3:30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky). With his cross from the half field to Knauff, who was standing more than 30 meters away, he undermined the entire Leipzig defense. “Our coach told us that RB should defend very high and that we should play the ball into the space behind the chain. I did that. “I saw Ansgar run in on the right,” said the Frenchman, describing the extraordinary action.
Nkounkou generally listens very carefully to what Dino Toppmöller tells him. The exchange with the trainer was very lively and fruitful. The fact that the Moselle native speaks French very well helps with communication. “We also worked a lot with videos. What you see there is true. Videos don’t lie.” The pictures exposed Nkounkou’s defensive weaknesses, which at times upset him and took away his confidence to appear courageous offensively.
Niels Nkounkou is completely focused on the essentials. : Image: Huebner
With persistence he worked his way out of his slump, which impressed Toppmöller and also prompted him to try again and again with the Frenchman. Effort and patience paid off. Nkounkou’s explanation: “I now understand better and better what the coach is asking of me, and I also know the league better.” For him it was a big step from the second division in France, where he scored six goals in St. Etienne and eight assists took off into the first class in Germany.
Question marks in the eyes
“There is a completely different intensity, I am challenged much, much more. I had to get used to the fact that you can’t afford to make small mistakes, even technically.” He now feels like he has arrived. “I know I still need to improve, especially defensively. But I feel much more comfortable now.”
Which is noticeable in him. Against Leipzig he impressed not only with his winning assist but also with a very calm and serious style of play when it was necessary to defend. And in Leipzig, Frankfurt were almost exclusively defending for the ninety minutes. When Nkounkou was asked after his debut whether he knew Filip Kostic, there were question marks in his eyes. Nkounkou was asked on Tuesday whether he knew him now: “Of course I know who he is now, but I’m focusing on my performance. I don’t compare, we are two different personalities with two different careers.”
Ralf Weitbrecht, Leipzig Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 A comment from Jörg Daniels Published/Updated: Recommendations: 9 A comment from Ralf Weitbrecht Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
He also doesn’t take a closer look at their next opponent, Darmstadt 98. Is the Hessen derby something special? “Every game is important.” Ultimately, the team has set itself the goal of playing internationally again next year. If Niels Nkounkou maintains the form of his last two appearances, then Eintracht has a good chance of achieving their goal, even if he doesn’t immediately become the new Kostic.