Rapp credits "streetballer" Skrzybski for helping Kiel gain first-ever Bundesliga point
Later at the post-match presser, trainer Marcel Rapp credited veteran journeyman Steven Skrzybski for his magnificent improvised assist on the late equalizer.
| Steven Skrzybski | Sandro Halank CC BY-SA 4.0 |
The path up from the bottom of the Bundesliga table remains a steep climb for newly promoted Holstein Kiel, but Bundesliga debutants were at least able to commemorate their first ever point gained in Germany's top footballing flight. Of some relevance, Marcel Rapp's Storks were also able to ensure that relegation rivals VfL Bochum didn't run away with all three points at home.
Kiel snatched a late draw from the Revierklub via an 89th-minute equalizer from Japanese striker Shuto Machino. The five-times-capped Samurai international has now scored twice in the German top flight and once in the Pokal. Machino's 2-2, netted off the bench, came courtesy of a fine assist from the attacker's fellow sub Steven Skrzybski.
"When Steven played the ball into the middle, I saw the space and scored," Machino noted in the mixed zone, "I'm really happy to have helped the team with the goal. It was an important point, even though we would have liked to have taken three.”
There were plenty of other Kiel actors who thought the point to be deserved. In stark contrast to his tone last week, captain Lewis Holtby praised his teammates for "remaining courageous" when speaking in the mixed zone. Goal-scorer Benedikt Pilcher called the equalizer "overdue based on our chances" and insisted the team would "take confidence" from the result.
At the post-match presser, head-coach Marcel Rapp made sure to single out Skrzybski for praise. The 31-year-old is no stranger to German top flight football. Unfortunately for the Berlin native, both of the clubs he ended up representing last (Fortuna Düsseldorf 2019/20) and FC Schalke 04 (2020/21) ended up getting relegated. Fighting through a calf injury all summer, it was unclear as to whether Skrzybski could help the heavy underdogs.
"[Skrzybski's] route [of the set piece that led to the goal] wasn't planned [that way]," Rapp noted at the press conference, "‘but we know the spaces in which he moves. ‘In the scene, the old streetballer in the old man came out again."
“I'm always quite matter-of-fact in my analysis and don't let myself be influenced by what is written," Rapp continued "But for the guys, it's important that we got a point. It's a good start."