It took Eintracht Frankfurt’s Branimir Hrgota just seven minutes to score on his DFB Pokal debut against FC Magdeburg after his transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach. While the striker has enjoyed regular game time in the Bundesliga, he has watched most of his side’s cup run from the bench.
Hrgota will now face up to his old club in the semi-final of the competition on Tuesday and ahead of the game he spoke to DFB about his old friends at Borussia-Park, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his hope of making the starting line-up in the competition once more.
DFB: Mr Hrgota, you wore the Gladbach jersey for four years, and switched in Summer, surely that makes this Tuesday’s game a special one?
Branimir Hrgota: Absolutley, we are one step away from a spot in the final. Playing the semi´final in Gladbach makes it even more special for me. I had four great years there and made a lot of friends and to have a chance to play against them again just increases the excitement for me.
DFB: How do you rate your chances against Borussia Mönchengladbach?
Hrgota: They have a very strong team and are the favourites because they will be at home. But I believe in us. We will give it our all and show that we want to progress.
DFB: What’s the difference between the style of the two teams?
Hrgota: There really are not a lot of differences. Both teams like having the ball and like to create chances like that.
DFB: Regarding your personal record, a bit of an odd statistic: You have made 19 Bundesliga appearances but only played once in the DFB Pokal, in the first round?
Hrgota: We had a busy schedule for a while, and it’s down to the manager to decide who plays and who misses out. Obviously you want to show what you can do in every game - and that goes for the cup as well.
DFB: You also got the first goal for Frankfurt in this year’s competition against Magdeburg in the first round.
Hrgota: I remember that goal well. It was my first competitive goal for Eintracht. Omar Mascarell set me away and put the the ball in the back of the net.
DFB: As well as that goal you have struck four times in the Bundesliga. How would you rate your season?
Hrgota: I am very happy with the amount of time I have spent on the pithc. I’ve been starting a lot and have worked have to keep my place. I could perhaps have scored more goals but if I keep putting the work in I’m sure I will get more.
DFB: Do you hope your season will see you get called up to the Swedish National team again?
Hrgota: It’s no something I think about a lot. What’s important is how I play for Eintracht Frankfurt. If I play well there then perhaps I will get my chance with Sweden again.
DFB: You have already made three international appearances. Do you know who has made 116 for Sweden?
Hrgota: That must be a very old player
DFB: It is Zlatan Ibrahimovic: An idol of yours?
Hrgota: He is a great player but I would not call him an idol. When I was in the team in 2014 I obviously made a note of what he did and how he acted. He is a great striker, who I can learn a lot from.
[dfb]
It took Eintracht Frankfurt’s Branimir Hrgota just seven minutes to score on his DFB Pokal debut against FC Magdeburg after his transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach. While the striker has enjoyed regular game time in the Bundesliga, he has watched most of his side’s cup run from the bench.
Hrgota will now face up to his old club in the semi-final of the competition on Tuesday and ahead of the game he spoke to DFB about his old friends at Borussia-Park, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his hope of making the starting line-up in the competition once more.
DFB: Mr Hrgota, you wore the Gladbach jersey for four years, and switched in Summer, surely that makes this Tuesday’s game a special one?
Branimir Hrgota: Absolutley, we are one step away from a spot in the final. Playing the semi´final in Gladbach makes it even more special for me. I had four great years there and made a lot of friends and to have a chance to play against them again just increases the excitement for me.
DFB: How do you rate your chances against Borussia Mönchengladbach?
Hrgota: They have a very strong team and are the favourites because they will be at home. But I believe in us. We will give it our all and show that we want to progress.
DFB: What’s the difference between the style of the two teams?
Hrgota: There really are not a lot of differences. Both teams like having the ball and like to create chances like that.
DFB: Regarding your personal record, a bit of an odd statistic: You have made 19 Bundesliga appearances but only played once in the DFB Pokal, in the first round?
Hrgota: We had a busy schedule for a while, and it’s down to the manager to decide who plays and who misses out. Obviously you want to show what you can do in every game - and that goes for the cup as well.
DFB: You also got the first goal for Frankfurt in this year’s competition against Magdeburg in the first round.
Hrgota: I remember that goal well. It was my first competitive goal for Eintracht. Omar Mascarell set me away and put the the ball in the back of the net.
DFB: As well as that goal you have struck four times in the Bundesliga. How would you rate your season?
Hrgota: I am very happy with the amount of time I have spent on the pithc. I’ve been starting a lot and have worked have to keep my place. I could perhaps have scored more goals but if I keep putting the work in I’m sure I will get more.
DFB: Do you hope your season will see you get called up to the Swedish National team again?
Hrgota: It’s no something I think about a lot. What’s important is how I play for Eintracht Frankfurt. If I play well there then perhaps I will get my chance with Sweden again.
DFB: You have already made three international appearances. Do you know who has made 116 for Sweden?
Hrgota: That must be a very old player
DFB: It is Zlatan Ibrahimovic: An idol of yours?
Hrgota: He is a great player but I would not call him an idol. When I was in the team in 2014 I obviously made a note of what he did and how he acted. He is a great striker, who I can learn a lot from.
