With his new club, Johannes Eggestein will face Eintracht Frankfurt. In the kicker interview, the 23-year-old talks about the high ambitions of Royal Antwerp FC, personal priorities in his transfer and a return to Bremen that he had actually imagined differently.
Mr Eggestein, the fact that we are able to talk to you on the occasion of the Europa League match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday evening (18.45, LIVE! on kicker) is partly thanks to you.
That’s right. (laughs)
The Europa League qualifying second leg against Omonia Nicosia was only decided in a penalty shoot-out: you stepped up – and scored. Have you ever been under so much pressure in your young career?
No, that was actually a new situation for me in that form. It was about qualifying for Europe – yes or no. We were playing at home and fans were allowed in again, many were standing right behind the goal. That’s why it triggered something in me and I’m also a bit proud that it worked out with the qualification.
Up until the 2016/17 season, Royal still played in the 2nd division. When did you first become aware of the club?
In November. I played here last season with Linzer ASK and incidentally scored my first Europa League goal. That’s probably when they scouted me for the first time as well. (laughs)
What can you say about the club in the meantime?
It’s similar to Linz; LASK hasn’t been playing in the 1st division in Austria for that long, but it’s a real traditional club. I was also amazed that the interior of the stadium has been completely renovated since November. A lot of money has been invested in the general conditions.
“You can see that there is a lot behind this and that a big project has been started. “
JOHANNES EGGESTEIN
And into personnel, players were signed for over 23 million euros before the season.
You can tell that there is a lot behind this and a big project has been started. The club makes no secret of how ambitious it is. We want to attack in the league and play for the Belgian title. But that’s not what I was interested in in the first place.
But about what?
Generally speaking, it doesn’t always have to be England, Spain, Italy or Germany. Good football is also played in other countries. And for me, it’s not just the aspect of playing in the best league that’s important – I see my career as an adventure in which I can gain a lot of experience. Not only athletically, but as a person. The fact that I was in Austria and am now in Antwerp gives me so much as a person and in my personality.
In what way?
I am someone who also looks for a challenge outside football. And this in Antwerp is something like that – a lot is demanded of me. My first year abroad in Linz certainly made it easier for me to take such a step again. Although Belgium is a different challenge from Austria in terms of the overall package.
Because the linguistic relief is gone?
Exactly, you no longer communicate in your mother tongue. And apart from me, nobody else here speaks German. When the boys in the dressing room speak Flemish or French among themselves, I don’t understand anything at first. I didn’t remember that much from school. (laughs) And you also have to take into account that you want to make friends off the pitch in order to feel comfortable – and to be able to perform. But the team meetings are in English and that works quite well anyway. In addition, I’m already taking language lessons to improve myself.
Did you prefer the move to Belgium over offers from Germany?
There were options in Germany as well, but I doubted that would have been right for me. If it’s a Bundesliga team playing to stay in the league, as a young striker you also ask yourself what effect that has on your own development. And often for these teams it’s about defending and counter-attacking – but I don’t see myself as the type of player who comes in on the counter-attacks or the fast flanks. I wanted to go to a team that was playing at the top of its league and where, as a striker, you get a lot of offensive action through possession. That suited Antwerp better. Besides, the club had been interested in me for a long time – although I initially blocked the first enquiry shortly after the New Year.
Because you wanted to return to Werder Bremen?
I was still under contract there and that was my goal at first, because Bremen has become my second home over the years. I let myself be loaned out to Austria with the plan of getting playing practice and then making another attempt at Werder. But I was told relatively quickly that this was not in the interest of both sides.
When was this signal given?
Right at the start of the preparation. I thought it was a pity that Markus Anfang didn’t give me the chance to convince him. He was sure that I didn’t fit into his system as a hanging tip. To be fair, at least he told me honestly and early on. I like that better than when you only come out with half the truth. I’m not resentful either, because he gave me the opportunity and the necessary time to look for a new club.
Up until your transfer, Anfang tried you out in several positions. Would you have wished it differently?
I wouldn’t even call it trying out. I was only used where no player was available: sometimes on the wing, then in attack, also as an eighth. After the successful year in Austria, I came back with different expectations.
Namely?
That I would be classified as a permanent squad player and have my permanent position. That it wasn’t seen that way then surprised me, at least at that early stage. Also because I had relatively little to do with the Bundesliga relegation and there was talk of integrating new faces. I already saw myself in such a position then.
In Antwerp, you now wear the number 9 jersey – which should make your area of responsibility clear?
That was also important to me. Before my transfer, I had a zoom call with the new coach Brian Briske to clarify where I see myself personally and to find out where he sees me. I play as a central attacker, hanging behind or in a one-two.
“It’s always a kind of gamble, between patience and impatience “
JOHANNES EGGESTEIN
However, you have not been in the starting eleven in the league.
I’m still relatively new here, I didn’t take part in the preparation either. It’s always a kind of gamble between patience and impatience. You have to give yourself time to get used to the team and the Belgian league; on the other hand, you have to have something to show in the short term. But I think I’m doing that quite well. At the weekend against Saint Gilloise we were 1-0 down and after our three substitutions we turned the game around.
Before the game on Thursday night: Is there any special connection between you and Eintracht Frankfurt?
No, but I can probably finally speak German again with a few people on the pitch. (laughs)
