2:0 after 4:2: With the sensational triumph over Benfica Lisbon, Eintracht Frankfurt continues to hold up the German flag in Europe. Danny da Costa still can’t believe what he and his colleagues are doing at the moment.
After making it to the semi-finals of the Europa League, the right-back faced questions from the media in the Mixed Zone. He gave an insight into his emotional life and revealed why he is careful with superlatives. He also talked about winning goal scorer Sebastian Rode and his way to regenerate. He declared war on his next opponent, Chelsea FC.
Mr. da Costa, after your 2-0 defeat of Benfica, you are in the semi-finals of the Europa League with Eintracht. Apart from your cup victory last year, is this the highlight of your career so far?
Danny da Costa: I haven’t experienced games like today very often. But as we all know, one highlight after the other comes to us. You just stand there and say, “It doesn’t get any better than that.” But that’s not true. Now they are here after a semi-final entry in the Europa League against Benfica and say again: “It’s not going to get any better”. In the meantime, I have become cautious when it comes to such formulations, because we always put one on top of it.
How do you deal with such experiences?
Da Costa: What we have achieved today and what we have achieved throughout the entire season is incredible. I am happy and proud that we were able to make this game a success. But you will only become aware of this when the season is over, when you come to rest and can look back on what has happened. Nobody thought we’d make it this far.
Against Benfica, however, the assistance of referee Daniele Orsato was also necessary. How did you perceive the 1:0 by Filip Kostic?
Da Costa: It all happened very quickly. Ante (Rebic) gets his way, Mijat (Gacinovic) shoots the ball at the post, the ball bounces back from the post and Filip makes it in. But Benfica didn’t really appreciate the fact that the video proof will only be available in the final of the Europa League. They didn’t know that and got upset for minutes. In this case we had the necessary luck, which you sometimes also need to get ahead.
Sebastian Rode scored the golden goal to 2:0. How happy are you for him that after a hard time without playing practice at Borussia Dortmund in Frankfurt he plays such a great second half?
Da Costa: Seb is a great guy. From day one, I never had the feeling that he lacked playing practice. Sure: Out the back has felt him in the first games from time to time the strength. But it’s nothing out of the ordinary. He does his thing brilliantly. At the meeting before the game I spoke with him briefly and said that he should score two goals. But I can live well with one of them. I’m so happy for him. He deserves that.
Next up is FC Chelsea against another hammer opponent. What are the SGE’s chances of reaching the final?
Da Costa: If you see who we’ve played against so far, we have a very good chance of beating Chelsea as well. We have to perform as well as we do today, that much is clear. But I am sure that we will play two very good games.
They were in the 43rd Eintracht Compulsory Game this season for the 43rd time in the starting eleven. Aren’t you getting tired?
Da Costa: I think to myself after every game: “Well, that’s it then.” But then I recover quickly and can give 90 minutes full throttle three or four days later. I have very great faith in my body. He’s doing all right so far.
How do you regenerate?
Da Costa: I sleep a lot.
Tonight too? Can you go straight to sleep after this game?
Da Costa: You can be sure that tonight will be quite a long night. From tomorrow it will be: A little into the ice buoy, a little on the bike, a little treated by the physio and hope that I will work again against Wolfsburg on Monday.
