Hibs ace in 'something special' claim as Easter Road side target stuttering Steelmen in Euro race
Champions League pedigree and eye for goal - why Felix Passlack is such a threat for David Gray’s men
Hibs goal scorer Felix Passlack insists the Easter Road side can achieve “something special” over the closing six games of the season, as David Gray’s men look to lock down a return to European football by overtaking fourth-placed Motherwell. And the former Borussia Dortmund wingback, the youngest German scorer in Champions League history back in his early days as a Jurgen Klopp favourite, believes the impact made by a handful of January signings can give Hibs the oomph needed to go crashing through the finish line of their stop-start campaign.
Yesterday’s 3-0 home win over Kilmarnock saw Gray’s men move within three points of Motherwell, who lost 3-2 at home to Falkirk. Only the Scottish Premiership’s top four will be guaranteed a crack at UEFA qualification, with the side finishing fifth only entering via the early rounds via the side door if Celtic go onto win the Scottish Cup.
Hibs head north to take on relegation-threatened Aberdeen at Pittodrie next weekend, while the Steelman face title challengers Hearts at Tynecastle. The rivals will then meet once in the post-split fixtures, with the venue for that potential Euro eliminator still to be decided by the SPFL; there is still a chance that Hibs will have to return to Fir Park for a third time this season.
Deadline Day signing Passlack, who set up Owen Elding’s opener against Killie inside the opening 15 seconds at Easter Road yesterday, then followed up with his second goal for the club, burying a cross from opposite wingback Jordan Obita to finish off a sweeping move by the hosts. Substitute Ante Suto bagged a third in injury time, meaning all three Hibs goals came from January signing.
German scored in historic win over Celtic
Passlack, admitting that the players are entirely engaged in the battle for league placings, said: “Of course, yeah, that's the target, to reach Motherwell. Hopefully we are playing them here at Easter Road.
“It's important that we stick to our plan in the next six games. We believe that we can achieve something special.
“I mean, we're now six games unbeaten, three clean sheets in a row, so yeah, of course the team gains a lot of confidence. And hopefully we'll see it on the pitch.”
Passlack, now 27 and already a goal scorer at Celtic Park as Hibs beat the Hoops away from home for the first time in 16 years, has added real quality and drive to Hibs at the top end of the park, with Gray insisting on his wingbacks pushing forward at every opportunity. The former Bochum player has certainly settled in quickly – a common theme for the half dozen new arrivals who pitched up at East Mains just before the January window closed.
“I mean, we signed a lot of young lads, like Owen, Ante, Kai (Andrews), and yeah, they bring some fresh energy into the squad,” he said, adding: “I think you can also see it on the pitch, like Owen scored, Ante scored again. So yeah, they're really important for the team.
“My goal? I think Jordan did a really good run, and I was just looking that I arrived at the perfect time, and I was hoping that Jordan sees me. Nearly missed, by the way! But I scored at the end.
“The fact that I played as a winger as a young player helps a lot. A lot. I mean, that was what the gaffer wants to see, that we are always in the box, always there for the second post. Yeah, I think I get used to it.
“I really enjoy being here. I enjoy the city, the club, the people are amazing. So, yeah, it was really easy to get into the team.”
Borussia Dortmund provided European highlight
With a quiet “I would say so, yeah”, Passlack admits that European football will always hold a special place in his heart. Aged just 17 when he scored for Dortmund against Legia Warsaw in the world’s most prestigious club competition, he hasn’t quite put up the numbers predicted when he was still just a raw kid.
“I played in the Europa League with Hoffenheim,” he said, when prompted for more info on his UEFA CV, laughing as he added: “I don’t remember how far we got, to be honest!
“But European football is special because you’re playing games all the time. You have less training, more games – and that’s normally what a footballer wants to have.
“That is our target. To finish fourth, catch Motherwell. That’s what we’re playing for in the next six games.”