BORUSSIA Dortmund allowed Ansgar Knauff to go out on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt back in January because they did not feel the young winger would be involved in their quest to win the Europa League this season.
The Westfalenstadion giants subsequently lost to Rangers in the knockout round play-off the following month - and Knauff has gone on to help Eintracht beat Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham and reach the final in Seville.
The 20-year-old, who will be deployed at right wing back by Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium here this evening, has been as surprised as anyone in German football at what has transpired in the past five months
“It's been an incredible journey since I've been here,” said Knauff yesterday as he looked ahead to the meeting with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
“It was not an easy step at first. I talked through everything with the club, my advisor and my family. But now I'm just grateful to be able to experience it all here.
“I was told about the magical nights with Eintracht in the Europa League. I couldn’t really imagine it at first, but now I have experienced for myself the power the fans can unleash.
“I have been pleased that I have been able to experience something like this in such a short time in the club. It's a dream for me. It has all happened very quickly. This loan has been the right move for me.”
Knauff, who is set to remain at Eintracht until the end of next season, admits the surprise defeat that Rangers dealt his parent club Dortmund back in February has given him an added incentive to triumph in Seville.
"Rangers have knocked out top teams,” he said. "They are very aggressive, we have a similar style of play. But their win against Dortmund gives me even more motivation. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure they don't beat us.”
Despite his youth and inexperience, Knauff has become a potent attacking weapon for Glasner in the Europa League this year.
He scored important goals for Eintracht against Barcelona in the quarter-final and West Ham in the semi-final. Rangers will have to be wary of his powerful runs from deep this evening.
The Dortmund loanee will certainly not be in the slightest bit daunted by the occasion and believes the German side need to approach the match with their Scottish rivals in exactly the same way as the previous rounds.
“We should focus on ourselves and not do much differently,” he said. “We will do everything to win this trophy.
“It's going to be an open and intense game, like it was against West Ham when both teams were prepared to go into tough duels. It's going to be a tiring game with a lot of running.
“I expect a heated game with an extremely good atmosphere. We must not be discouraged. We need that carefree attitude like we did against Barcelona or West Ham. We have to play freely.”
Knauff added: “It relaxes me having a nucleus of experienced players around me, guys who played at this stage of the competition before and got to the semi-finals a few years ago. They know how it is, they can encourage us and give us tips. For me, it is the perfect mix, a balance between youth and experience.
“The fans have also been important and they will also be important in the final. It is a great feeling to play with such good fans cheering you on. Of course, Rangers have great fans too. It will be a good battle, a great fight, between the two teams.”
