Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 7y

Marco Fabian: I needed time to adjust to Eintracht Frankfurt

Marco Fabian never considered abandoning his European dream despite the challenges he faced in adjusting to a new league following his winter move to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 27-year-old Mexico international joined Frankfurt from Deportivo Guadalajara in January and failed to put his name on the score sheet in his 11 league appearances last term, and only set up two goals as the team struggled in the Bundesliga.

The struggles meant he not only lost his place on the Frankfurt team but also in El Tri's 2016 Copa America Centenario squad. 

But Fabian said he maintained his confidence during the difficult first half of 2016 as he adjusted to playing for the first time in a league outside of Mexico.

"I never had any doubts," Fabian told Sport Bild. "I was prepared that it would be difficult to adjust. I knew that I needed time to establish myself in a new team on a new continent."

Die Adler's Bundesliga strugglers maintained their first league status in the relegation playoffs with 2 Bundesliga side Nuremberg.

"For years, I worked hard for my chance to play in Europe," Fabian said. "And that's why you don't just give up after six months in Bundesliga and return home."

This season, Fabian has not only improved his overall stats, scoring three goals and setting up two more in his five appearances so far, but at the weekend also made the headlines with his 2-2 equaliser against Bayern Munich.

"I'm getting more game time [this season] and that has helped me settle into my rhythm," Fabian told the official Bundesliga site. "I've been given the chance to show what I can do and I'm taking it."

It was Fabian's second goal in only a week after already scoring in his comeback match for Mexico in the 2-1 win against New Zealand on Oct. 9.

He was also named Bundesliga Player of the Week for matchday 7.

"It hurt," Fabian said about losing his place on Mexico's 2016 Copa America squad. "But it was also an incentive to work even more in preseason to establish myself at Frankfurt and return to the Mexico squad.

"Scoring after being called up again was a confirmation that it was right to stay here."

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