Change in the summer

Grüll needs convincing after scandal

Marco Grüll scored three times in Hartberg.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

With three goals on his comeback after serving his ban, Rapids' Marco Grüll has made a statement. The 25-year-old, dubbed a "scandalous professional" by the German media in the wake of the Green-Whites' homophobic gaffes, helped his team pick up big points in the chasing pack in the Bundesliga. "Of course it feels good. I was delighted to be back on the pitch," said Grüll on Sunday after the 3-0 win at TSV Hartberg. His performances should also be the focus in the future.

After Rapid's 3-0 win in the Vienna derby against Austria on February 25, Grüll and other players had joined fans in homophobic and other disparaging chants directed at the Violets. Cell phone videos of this quickly made the rounds. The Bundesliga Criminal Senate initially suspended Grüll for six competitive matches for discrimination, three of which were unconditional. Following an appeal, the number of matches was reduced by one in each case.

Not an easy situation in Bremen
The attacking player, who will move to Werder Bremen in the summer, publicly apologized for his behaviour and received support from his club. But his image was already damaged by then. In Germany, the reports about the Rapid bullies - including those in the Bild newspaper - triggered a huge response. Werder fans, for whom anti-discrimination and an open fan culture are extremely important, turned up their noses at the soon-to-be new arrival. Those responsible at the club summoned Grüll to a meeting, about which nothing was made public. What is certain is that the Austrian will have to do some convincing in his new environment.

ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick reacted by not calling up any of the affected Rapid players for the March internationals against Slovakia and Turkey. However, when announcing the squad, the German also assured that the door was not closed for good. This would be particularly important for Grüll with regard to the EURO squad, especially as there are not exactly any top-class options in attack and several candidates such as Andreas Weimann, Maximilan Entrup, Manprit Sakaria and Junior Adamu are vying for places. In the end, Grüll had to stand idly by and watch as Weimann and Entrup scored in their team kit.

Ralf Rangnick took action and removed Grüll from the ÖFB squad.

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

The suspensions of Grüll, Guido Burgstaller and others were also a turning point for the Rapid team. After all, they went three games without a win. Until Easter Sunday, when the away game in Hartberg came up and Grüll scored three goals for the first time in his professional career. "That really is a first. It was the first time I scored three goals," he said. "Of course, I'm delighted to be back like this after the ban." Grüll thus kept the battle for the better international places exciting. In fourth place, Rapid are one point behind LASK.

From the outside, the game was not a footballing treat, "but in the end it was the result that counted today, and that was fine," said the new leader in the goalscoring charts. "When we win 3:0 away in Hartberg, we don't have to start looking for the fly in the ointment," said Rapid coach Robert Klauß, who had called up Grüll as the nominal solo striker in the absence of Burgstaller. "We knew he could play that way," said the German.

Robert Klauß had words of praise

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Praise from the coach
"I'm extremely pleased for him that he's now been able to help us so directly after the time he was off the pitch and has also rewarded himself," emphasized Klauß. The head coach is hoping that Grüll can maintain his form. The Cup semi-final at DSV Leoben is already scheduled for Wednesday evening, and on Sunday the Hütteldorfer have to face league leaders Red Bull Salzburg. Should Grüll shine as a match-winner once or twice in the all-important month of April with his monster program, that would also be the best argument in his own favour with regard to the other construction sites he has torn open.