When Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller said this sentence, he had just thrown his midfielder Junior Dina Ebimbe out of the team: “Junior is someone who has incredible potential. We all know that here.”But there are phases in which the 23-year-old Frenchman doesn’t even touch the potential of his performance base.
When he is dissatisfied with himself and his environment, when he allows himself to be carried away or paralyzed by his negative feelings, when he is too busy with himself to be of any help to the team. As was the case in the autumn before the first leg against 1. FC Heidenheim.
In last Sunday’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim, Ebimbe once again showed what he can do. One goal, four shots on goal and a total of a dozen spectacular offensive scenes made him one of the most important factors, if not the most important factor, in Eintracht’s first really convincing victory in weeks.
And there is no question that the Frenchman will be in the starting line-up in Dortmund this Sunday (5.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on DAZN) when the Frankfurt team will try to take the momentum from Hoffenheim and close the gap to BVB to reduce the score to four points. Which opened up a small chance of perhaps overtaking the Black and Yellows in the last eight Bundesliga match days.
Leprosy erinnert an Pogba
Ebimbe’s “unbelievable potential” lies primarily in his dynamism and power. Once rolling, the model athlete can no longer be stopped. Neither in his drive into the opponent’s penalty area, nor in defensive duels, nor in his goal-scoring. In his style he is sometimes reminiscent of Paul Pogba, although Ebimbe does not quite have the playing quality of his compatriot, but does have his athleticism, running ability and also his emotional instability. Ebimbe has a low tolerance for frustration; he is often seen covering his face with his hands, tearing his hair or making dismissive hand movements. Even against Hoffenheim, when things were going well for him and Eintracht.
The disadvantage of his emotionality: Ebimbe has a low frustration tolerance: Image: Huebner
Coach Toppmöller is very responsive to the Frenchman, pays him attention, shows understanding, sets limits, tries to get him on track with carrots and sticks – and his French language skills help him a lot. After the suspension against Heidenheim, the Eintracht coach made it clear in public: “It’s primarily about the willingness to invest everything when I go on the pitch. Not just for myself, but for my teammates. That’s what I ask of him and that’s what he has to do. Then he is an extremely important player for us. And if you don’t do that, then other people will play.”
“The disadvantage of polyvalence”
Despite his openness, he did not lose his player’s trust. “Junior knows that he will always be treated fairly by us. If he is better than the others, then he will play.” According to Toppmöller, Ebimbe responded well to his clear words and significantly improved his behavior in training and in the game. But even with greater commitment, the Frenchman often fell short of his potential this season. Which Toppmöller excuses. “It wasn’t helpful for him that he had to constantly play in different positions.”
Ebimbe was already a right and left rail player, a right full-back, a defensive midfielder and a central and attacking midfielder. “The disadvantage of polyvalence,” as Toppmöller puts it. He saw and sees the disadvantage, but accepted it as a lesser evil. Because of his dynamism and running ability, he often felt that Ebimbe was the best replacement for an injured or suspended regular player, even if the position wasn’t quite right. “We no longer have a player like Junior in our squad,” says Toppmöller.
Sports director Markus Krösche, who sees the French junior international more in the center of the field, thinks Toppmöller is more effective near the sidelines. “He also told me that he feels more comfortable there.” Ebimbe has already impressed left and right. The advantage of this lateral position: With the sideline nearby, it is easier to keep an overview than in the center, where opponents can come from all directions. “What Junior is all about when things get tight is to keep the action simple and thereby minimize ball losses, which hurt,” analyzes Toppmöller.
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At the same time, he praises Ebimbe’s determination and goal threat. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s with his right or left or with his head: Junior is looking for the goal.” Although the success rate could be a little better. Four Bundesliga goals and two goals in the cup are a mediocre result at best given the number of goalscoring opportunities he has. “We are working on this in training so that he becomes a little cleaner when he finishes, we give him every help,” said Toppmöller. His particular patience and effort with the Frenchman are well founded. “If Junior gives everything he has, he will be an extremely important player for us with his intensity.”