Marcel Hartel faces harsh aftermath of Saint Paul's fall, his status altered significantly.
Losin' Again: Hartel's Second MLS Season Leaves Him Empty-Handed
It seemed like a change in trend, but alas, Marcel Hartel's fate remained the same: on Monday night, he suffered a 1:2 loss with St. Louis against Portland, and his second MLS season is still running worse than the first. And that initial campaign wasn't exactly a breeze.
This disappointment isn't due to Hartel's personal performance on the field. The 29-year-old was involved in almost every offensive success on the Portland Timbers' artificial turf, except for the leading goal by Watts (50'). The lead didn't last long, as Antony equalized with an astonishing solo effort soon after. The crux of St. Louis' dilemma became apparent in extra time.
Ex-St. Paulianer Hartel Shines in MLS
A corner kick from the hosts winged its way across the penalty area at knee height before finding a grateful recipient in Ayala. This set the stage for Hartel's ninth defeat in the 17th game of the season, resulting in only three paltry wins and five draws. This leaves St. Louis in second-to-last place in the Western Conference, with only Marco Reus and the LA Galaxy behind them. Last season, Hartel and his teammates finished in 12th place.
Sights from the Bundesliga Might Sting "Cello"
The monetary aspect of Hartel's jump abroad might be the only positive takeaway for him. He is publicly earning a whopping annual salary of $1,797,600 (around €1.58 million), but from a sports perspective, his departure after the promotion with the Kiezklub has been a catastrophe so far. Despite this, he continues to deliver consistently, with 8 goals and 7 assists in 31 appearances for his new club. Hartel is the creative soul, heart, and execute of the team. The overall results remain manageable.
Former Clubs on the Rise in the Bundesliga
It may be disheartening for Hartel to look at the Bundesliga composition of the upcoming season. With St. Pauli, Union Berlin, and 1. FC Cologne, three of his former employers are set to compete in the top flight. Some of these clubs could potentially benefit from a Hartel in their squad.
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According to recent statistics, Hartel leads St. Louis in several crucial categories, including starts (12), minutes played (1,073), shots (23), shots on target (10), expected goals (2.67), and key passes (26), despite having zero assists so far[5]. He is tied for the team lead in MLS goals, with two goals to his name this season, alongside forward Cedric Teuchert[4][5]. Defender Kyle Hiebert is the only other St. Louis player who, like Hartel, has started all 12 MLS matches for the club[5].
Hartel joined St. Louis last summer and quickly established himself as a formidable force, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists in the final 9 games of the previous season[2]. His connection with fellow newcomer Teuchert has been crucial for St. Louis' attacking play[2]. Although the team has experienced some struggles during an eight-game winless streak, scoring the first goal in only three of those matches, they have a strong record of 2-2-1 when scoring first and 0-4-0 when conceding first, indicating that their fortunes are closely tied to early-game momentum[5].
In the light of his struggles in Major League Soccer (MLS), it might be interesting for Marcel Hartel to explore a transition from American football to European football, given his success in sports analysis of both sports. His impressive statistics in key categories such as starts, minutes played, shots on target, expected goals, and key passes, despite zero assists so far, highlight his potential in sports like German football (Bundesliga) or English football (Premier League). Hartel could potentially bring his creative play and scoring abilities to former clubs like St. Pauli, Union Berlin, or 1. FC Cologne, which are set to compete in the upcoming Bundesliga season.
