Frankfurt am Main – The 0: 3 in Cologne meant the end of the successful series of Eintracht Frankfurt. Coach Oliver Glasner (48) also sees the defeat as an opportunity for the upcoming tasks.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s head coach Oliver Glasner (48) believes that the 0-3 defeat against 1. FC Köln was a warning shot at the right time. © Tom Weller/dpa
The hearty 0: 3 bankruptcy at 1. FC Köln should sharpen the view of the essentials at Eintracht Frankfurt in the hot phase of the season and lead to a defiant reaction in the home game against Werder Bremen.
“Cologne was perhaps a warning shot that helps to find the focus again,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner before the duel with the promoted team this Saturday (6:30 p.m. / Sky) in the sold-out Frankfurt Arena. “The boys did a great job teaching us that week. Training was on fire!”
Against Werder, the 48-year-old football coach has plenty of staff to draw from. Only midfielder Junior Dina Ebimbe (22), who will be out for a few weeks after an operation on the syndesmosis ligament, is missing. Otherwise, all the pros are fit and looking forward to making amends. “We haven’t had this much intensity and joy in training for a long time,” reported Glasner. He was therefore “incredibly confident for the next games”.
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With 35 points, the Hessians are currently sixth in the Bundesliga. Next Tuesday is the first leg in the round of 16 of the Champions League against SSC Napoli.
“Of course we in the coaching team have been dealing with Naples for weeks. But we only spoke to the team about Bremen this week,” stressed Glasner.
It is possible that SGE veteran Makoto Hasebe (39, left) will play against Werder Bremen as the center of three central defenders. © Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
His team has to improve again, especially on the defensive – especially with standards. Since Eintracht has conceded the most goals of all Bundesliga teams.
“That annoys us all and was of course an issue this week. We will change something that we hope will reduce the high number of standard goals conceded,” announced Glasner. “We definitely don’t want to be the worst in this statistic.”
He left it open who will take on the role of defense chief on Saturday evening. Both Makoto Hasebe (39), Hrvoje Smolcic (22) and Kristijan Jakic (25) are options for the starting XI. “I haven’t decided yet, but one of the three will play at headquarters,” said Glasner.
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Of course, the Eintracht coach noticed the negative headlines after the setback last Sunday, but didn’t concern himself too much with it. “That would rob me of sleep. Then I would have dark circles like a 120-year-old,” said Glasner. It is important “that we stay with us”.
The Austrian isn’t worried about the morale or attitude of his protégés anyway. “I rule out one hundred percent that someone doesn’t fight back, doesn’t hit it or doesn’t want to,” said Glasner, adding: “We were all brutally angry after the defeat because we didn’t have to lose the game.” On Saturday there will be celebrations again.
