One of the things which can’t be quantified and plonked on a spreadsheet by football statisticians is motivation and the importance of it when related to other aspects of the game.
Managers like Pep Guardiola use it far more than initially discussed, and Mikel Arteta’s motivational quirks have become well known across social media.
It’s also an aspect being pushed strongly at Eintracht Frankfurt, which is giving an intense to two players after their Leeds United exits.
Rasmus Kristensen spent last season on loan at AS Roma from Leeds United, and it’s fair to say he had an up and down time. Initially, sections of the Italian media openly questioned why he’d been signed in the first place.
The 27-year-old is now on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, with the Bundesliga club having a €15m purchase clause.
Then there’s 28-year-old Robin Koch, who spent last season on with Eintracht before the transfer from Leeds United was made permanent.
This week’s edition of SportBild says the pair have ‘moved to the top of the power pyramid’ at the German club, a group of players who are considered leaders.
Both have reacted well to the methods of manager Dino Toppmöller, with SportBild saying he’s worked into a pattern of showing short but intense motivational videos, accompanied by dramatic music.
SportBild state: ‘Toppmöller discusses such clips, each lasting a maximum of one minute – accompanied by motivational music – with the media department beforehand. He often has specific requests as to which scenes and which motto – for example a word or a saying – should be shown. The videos are shown at the end of the last team meeting before the games and are well received by the stars.’
The club also have a six-hour working day for their players, and have a number of the squad designated as mediators to make sure things work between the 15 nationalities represented.
