With confidence, realism, but also the necessary self-criticism, Frankfurt’s experienced full-back Timothy Chandler assessed the overall situation at Eintracht Frankfurt after training on Wednesday. While he sees a great strength in mentality, he calls for an improvement in play.
A turbulent 2021 in many respects is coming to an end. As if the Corona pandemic alone had not done enough damage, smaller and larger construction sites, especially of a personnel nature, arose at Eintracht in close succession. “In the summer and also at the end of last season, it was very turbulent: He goes, he goes, he stops, a bit of circus upstairs, then a new coach is sought, transfers in the summer, Filip and Amin – it was a lot of hullabaloo,” Chandler looks back. However, the defender, a cheerful character by the book, did not let that put him off: “I dealt with the situation in a very relaxed way. In the end, when it’s all over, what counts is the club and the team that’s here. There is always a good atmosphere in the dressing room. “
Chandler: “Wasn’t all gold what we put on the pitch in the last few weeks… “
The fact that the team is intact despite the bumpy start to the season is documented not least by the three last-minute goals against Leipzig (1:1), Piraeus (2:1) and Fürth (2:1) in the past English week. “Football-wise, we are not showing the level of the months before. We have to improve our play. But I’m not worried as long as we still bring that mentality onto the pitch,” said Chandler. The 31-year-old openly admits: “We know we have a lot to do and not everything we put on the pitch in the last few weeks was gold…”
A scary first half like the last one at the bottom of the table from Fürth is not easy to understand even for him. “Some people worry too much,” Chandler believes, explaining, “Against Fürth, many players go in thinking: You have to win today. Then you’re not so relaxed in your head.” That makes it all the more important to “get into the game through good actions and passes” – which failed not only in Fürth. “If we don’t get into the game, we at least have to take on the duels and win them in order to get into the game,” demanded the full-back.
Chandler relaxed: Frankfurt second in mileage
Lately, coach Oliver Glasner had spoken about the fact that things would only progress “in very small steps” until the winter break due to the many English weeks and international absences. Chandler agrees: “Of course we are impatient. But impatience is not always a good thing. Of course we always want more, more, more. Still, we have to take small steps.” Eintracht also had its problems in the first third of last season, although it was able to concentrate entirely on the DFB Cup and the league because it did not play internationally. “I read in kicker that we had only one point less at the same time last year. From there, I am relaxed and know that we will bring everything to the pitch and collect points. I’m not worried,” emphasises Chandler. That this is by no means a laissez-faire attitude becomes clear when he says: “The important thing is that we work hard. If I knew we were slacking there and not everyone on the pitch was working hard, I’d say we had a big problem. But from the running stats, you can see what the guys are pulling off.” Frankfurt’s average of 118 kilometres puts them in second place behind Arminia Bielefeld (119.8).
For Chandler personally, the season has been as changeable as it has been for Eintracht as a whole. Sometimes he plays on the left, sometimes on the right, sometimes he sits on the bench, sometimes in the stands. He sees this constantly changing role with the necessary composure. Anyone who has been around for so long and has such a sunny disposition doesn’t get too crazy any more. “I came from zero, played good games, which we also won, then I was out again. In Piraeus I also came from zero again and we won there,” Chandler sums up the ups and downs of the last few weeks. When he plays, he focuses mainly on his core business: defence. “In Piraeus I played on the left. Nobody can expect me to do offensively what Filip does. I’m Timmy, play my football and help the team the way I can,” says the Frankfurt-born former US international. With his ambition and this sensible self-assessment, he has come a long way; including the national team, he will soon have 300 professional games on his CV. That’s something to be proud of.
