Axel Hellmann thinks he already knows what will happen next Saturday in Berlin. From the point of view of the Eintracht board spokesman, the Main metropolis will then be the focus of the federal capital. "We are going to Berlin with full force and full force. "It's going to be a Frankfurt final – and in the end there will be a Frankfurt Cup victory."

Jörg Daniels

Editor in the sports editorial department

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Eintracht in the final (20:00 CET in the F.A.Z. live ticker for the DFB Cup, on ZDF and Sky) against Champions League participants RB Leipzig – Hellmann is hoping for "the really big moments" in Berlin. On the second cup victory after 2018 and the second title win in a row, because Frankfurt won the Europa League in the previous season. "We want to go full throttle," promises the board spokesman for the 49th competitive game of this season and immediately follows up with a challenge to the opponents from Saxony: "We will go into the game with the knife between our teeth."

After Berlin, the Hessians are once again accompanied by tens of thousands of supporters. The Frankfurt club officials firmly believe that the up to 40,000 Eintracht fans on Saturday will ensure the mood in the Olympic Stadium. In every respect, it should be a day of celebration - even away from the venue - for the Hessians, who are full of anticipation for the big event.

Larsson comes for about ten million euros

The 18-year-old Hugo Larsson, who Eintracht signed on Monday for the new season, will not be there. The Malmö FF midfielder, who is said to be one of the most promising players in his age group, has signed a contract in Frankfurt until 1 July 2028. Larsson has made 59 competitive appearances for the Swedish Cup winners, including 13 on the European stage. In January of this year, he made his debut in the Swedish senior national team, standing in the starting line-up. "With Hugo Larsson, we have an already established midfielder with great potential," said sporting director Markus Krösche. The transfer fee for Larsson is said to be around ten million euros.

After the 2-1 home win over SC Freiburg in the final Bundesliga match and reaching the Conference League in seventh place, the mood at Frankfurt could hardly be better. According to Eintracht's script, the furious first division final must now be followed by the crowning highlight of the 2022/23 season with the cup victory. "In terms of atmosphere, this game with this dramaturgy gives us a rocket drive," said Hellmann with regard to the fact that Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe had made it 2-1 against Freiburg in injury time.

The board spokesman could not be surprised by the precision landing seven days before the cup final, because: "That's typical for this club," he said. "Anyone who has been associated with Eintracht for a long time knows that things are never linear or straight with us. We always need a few detours." As long as Frankfurt, where Daichi Kamada is on the verge of a free transfer to AC Milan, reach their goal in the end, they don't mind if that's their own personal royal road.