As Leeds United continues to dream of escaping the Championship, two players who were relegated at Elland Road are edging closer to the Champions League.
In retrospect, questions about Victor Orta’s recruitment should have focused on fit rather than talent. Marc Roca, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch, Rasmus Kristensen, and others are all excellent players.
Whether they were Premier League players, well, that is another debate entirely.
Perhaps, with Leeds United trying to adapt to life post-Marcelo Bielsa, the likes of Kristensen were virtually set up to fail. Arriving in the midst of the lackluster Jesse Marsch period just as things started to unravel very fast at Elland Road.
Kristensen and Koch may not be competing for the Ballon D’Or in 2025 (the same cannot be said for former Leeds favourite turned Barcelona talisman Raphinha), but Champions League qualification would be a significant step forward for a defensive duo reunited and playing at the peak of their powers at Bundesliga high-flyers Eintracht Frankfurt.
Rasmus Kristensen, a Leeds United loanee, produces a Dortmund masterclass.
Three successive wins has Dino Toppmoller’s side sitting third. Bayer Leverkusen is second, followed by RB Leipzig in fifth place.
Meanwhile, the gap between Frankfurt and underperforming Borussia Dortmund has widened to 11 points. The Eagles increased the margin as they glided past the Black and Yellows over the weekend, winning 2-0 thanks to a Robin Koch clean sheet and Rasmus Kristensen’s maiden assist in Frankfurt colours.
Lining up on the right side of Toppmoller’s wing-back formation, allowing the energetic Dane to press on largely free of defensive responsibilities, the Leeds loanee undone Dortmund’s backline with a quick one-two before firing in a cross to the near post.
Hugo Ekitike finished brilliantly, putting Frankfurt up for a statement victory in the absence of Manchester City’s star, Omar Marmoush.
Rasmus Kristensen was dubbed ‘an amazing hit’ in Frankfurt by the German media. And, with each swashbuckling outing, the £12.5 million option-to-buy provision in his Commerzbank Arena deal appears to be excellent value.
“[Kristensen was] on fire, as always,” the Hanauer Anzeiger writes, after Frankfurt brought under-fire Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin even closer to the flames. “Constantly marched forward, perfectly prepared the [opening] goal by Ekitike.”
Hugo Ekitike finished brilliantly, putting Frankfurt up for a statement victory in the absence of Manchester City’s star, Omar Marmoush.
Rasmus Kristensen was dubbed ‘an amazing hit’ in Frankfurt by the German media. And, with each swashbuckling outing, the £12.5 million option-to-buy provision in his Commerzbank Arena deal appears to be excellent value.
“[Kristensen was] on fire, as always,” the Hanauer Anzeiger writes, after Frankfurt brought under-fire Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin even closer to the flames. “Constantly marched forward, perfectly prepared the [opening] goal by Ekitike.”
Kristensen has become a cult figure, known for both his tough-tackling ferocity and his on-field abilities. The former Red Bull Salzburg star not only posed a significant threat at one end, but he also kept Dortmund wunderkind Jamie Gittens on the sidelines at the other.
It’s easier said than done, as most full-backs will agree.
“A man of the people,” Spiegel adds, Kristensen is the epitome of a ‘popular favourite’. “It is likely that SGE will exercise the option to buy the Danish right-back: As an edgy, driving player, Kristensen is a player who can get the crowd fired up and the Frankfurt fans are particularly receptive to this.”
Lothar Matthaus praises Kristensen’s impact on Bundesliga high-flyers.
Lothar Matthaus, a German icon and Ballon d’Or winner, can be difficult to please.
Even he cannot doubt Frankfurt’s transfer market success.
If the Eagles exercise their option to sign Kristensen permanently, they will have paid approximately 15 million euros for both him and Robin Koch, while the starring role played by three former Dortmund players on Friday night did not reflect well on the beleaguered, defeated visitors.
“Frankfurt can work in peace,” says Matthaus, the Champions League contenders who perfect the art of buying low and selling high. “I believe Eintracht will establish itself in the top four if the squad remains unchanged and [sporting director Markus] Krosche continues to uncover these gems on the transfer market.
“Not just Marmoush, but Arthur Theate and Rasmus Kristensen were also excellent transfers. Ansgar Knauff and Nnamdi Collins moved from Dortmund, and Mario Gotze, a former BVB star, thrived in Frankfurt.”
