In the past seasons, Martin Hinteregger was an undisputed regular at Eintracht Frankfurt, but recently lost his place. With Makoto Hasebe in the three-man backline, the team finally made playful progress. Nevertheless, the Austrian could return to the first eleven this week.
For a long time it seemed as if nothing and nobody could stop the resilient defender from Carinthia from playing football. Hinteregger always played, even after suffering a double torn ligament in his shoulder in September. On the first eleven match days and in the first three Europa League games he was always on the pitch for more than 90 minutes, and he was also one of the perennial favourites in the Austrian national team. He only missed the last international match against Moldova because of a yellow suspension.
The fact that Hinteregger was on the bench for 90 minutes twice in a row is a new situation for him. A minor ankle injury had caused him to be unavailable on matchday 12 in Freiburg (2-0) and then against Royal Antwerp (2-2). Makoto Hasebe stepped in – and convinced with his usual clever positioning and good build-up play. This was one of the reasons why coach Oliver Glasner sent the same eleven onto the field four times in a row.
“Hase, Ndicka and Tuta have done very, very well in recent weeks. We are in a meritocracy, but Hinti is of course an important player for us,” said sporting director Markus Krösche after the 2:3 at TSG Hoffenheim last Saturday. Hinteregger, he said, would have to wait for his opportunities and offer himself through training.
We should talk about the game and those who played.
Glasner would not comment further when asked and also referred to the performances of the defenders called up recently. “We should talk about the game and those who played. The three-man backline with Tuta, Makoto and Evan has done very well in recent weeks.” Part of the truth, however, is that Hinteregger was previously unable to match the top performances he has often shown in recent years. The 29-year-old did not play badly, but also not so well that there is no way around him now.
Two-way strength is Hinteregger’s trump card
Netheless, it would be no surprise if Hinteregger gets at least one game this week. Hasebe recently completed 90 minutes three times within a week, but this workload is unlikely to be manageable for the soon-to-be 38-year-old Japanese on a permanent basis. Especially on Sunday against Leverkusen, Hinteregger could turn out to be the right choice to eliminate the recently dazzling centre-forward Patrik Schick. In terms of tackling strength, Hinteregger is clearly ahead of the old master Hasebe (48.4) with an average of 62.0 per cent of duels won, despite the somewhat sloping form curve this season. It is just as conceivable, of course, that there will be a rotation in defence as early as Thursday in the away game against Fenerbahce Istanbul.
