Eintracht Frankfurt is still deep in the crisis in the Bundesliga. Does Oliver Glasner have to worry about his job?
The last remnants of the magic of lavish European Cup nights are gone – Eintracht Frankfurt is playing gray Bundesliga football again. The 1-1 (1-0) against FC Augsburg, which was also not exactly spectacular, was the ninth league game in a row without a win, and another European adventure is slowly getting out of reach. The cup semi-final at VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday (8.45 p.m.) also comes at an inopportune time.
The long-standing supporters of the team are also lacking esprit at the moment. Mario Götze fell to the ground in disappointment on Saturday after the final whistle, he clutched his head in helplessness. Coach Oliver Glasner high-fived his players and tried to quickly build them up again. Meanwhile, the audience remained silent – as if in shock.
However, Glasner is not worried about his job. “You already know me a bit, I’m always very relaxed. If someone thinks that someone can do it better than Oliver Glasner, then they’ll tell me. Then I’ll pack my things and the next one will try “, said the Austrian.
In his previous positions, the 48-year-old continued, none of his successors had “done it better than me, so I’m relatively confident”. Eintracht could not win any of the last nine Bundesliga games under Glasner. Qualification for the premier class, which was announced as a goal in winter, has long been out of reach, and the minimum goal of the European Cup is also in great danger.
A few weeks ago, Eintracht Glasner made an offer to extend his contract, which runs until 2024, but Glasner is hesitant to sign. “It has nothing to do with delaying or egotism or poker – in no way. I just want to know: where is Eintracht’s journey going? And there are one or two things that are not yet so clear,” Glasner said in this regard last explained.
Eintracht boss Krösche has had enough of “excuses and alibis”
“It wasn’t a really good game from us. We made a lot of mistakes,” said Frankfurt national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp sky. He stated frustrated: “Unfortunately, we have to explain results week after week.” After all, the team could “make up some things” in the cup.
The equalizer from Ermedin Demirovic (58th) after an own goal by Elvis Rexhbecaj (25th) was an absolute mood killer. Augsburg remained without a win in the seventh league game in a row, but there is still some cushion on the relegation zone. However, FCA must improve, especially away from home, for 209 days there has not been a threesome in the opponent’s stadium.
After his fresh declaration of loyalty to Eintracht, Markus Krösche had had enough of “excuses and alibis”. Everyone would have to take one step more in this “shitty phase – in every situation. It’s not the time to talk around. Now is the time to act,” demanded the sports director: “We can still achieve great things and we also have to show that we absolutely want that. Every day and in every situation.”
Eintracht lacks the playful ease
The Hessians took that to heart from the start in front of 50,000 spectators and started with a lot of intensity and speed. But the lightness of play was missing – not surprising: because top scorer Randal Kolo Muani (adductor problems) and Djibril Sow (ill) were out, two absolute top performers. The Glasner team gained a clear advantage in possession, but acted far too imprecisely in the last third.
Almost logically, the lead came from an own goal, Rexhbecaj struggling a harmless cross from Aurelio Buta unhappily into the far corner. Since FCA also didn’t know what to do with the switching options without their top scorer Mergim Berisha, who was also injured, action in the penalty area was otherwise scarce. Dion Beljo’s chance to equalize (45′) came out of nowhere, but Tuta blocked in dire need.
Augsburg changed twice at the break – and acted more courageously. Demirovic (47th) first forced Kevin Trapp to make a brilliant save with a turning shot, then he steered a half-field cross into the far corner, which is worth seeing. As a result, Frankfurt lost the thread and engaged in an open exchange of blows.
Eintracht Frankfurt – FC Augsburg: The voices
Oliver Glasner (Eintracht Frankfurt coach): “The point is earned over 90 minutes. We’re working more football than we’re playing at the moment. We have the complicated solution rather than the simple one. We happily take the lead and then become passive. The goal we conceded really hurt us, there we were “We counted the 15 minutes correctly. We’re not able to get our attacking players into crystal-clear final positions at the moment. We’ve done everything better, but it just doesn’t work that way at the moment. We have to accept it, but of course we’re not satisfied.”
Enrico Maassen (FC Augsburg coach): “It was a very intense game. Frankfurt were very strong and variable in the first half. It was difficult to get them right. We conceded an unfortunate goal. Then, despite a difficult phase, we managed to keep the result. Then we are We started the second half well, we equalised. We even have the opportunity to do a second and we didn’t give up much. It’s an important point.”
