Eintracht Frankfurt showed a desolate performance in every respect in the 1:2 home defeat against Hertha BSC. The main responsibility for this lies with coach Oliver Glasner, who must now quickly draw the right conclusions. The transfers made by sporting director Markus Krösche must also be questioned. A commentary by kicker reporter Julian Franzke
When Glasner relentlessly analysed his team’s non-performance at the obligatory post-match press conference, not even exempting himself from criticism, he appeared dismayed and at a loss, almost impotent. “Maybe I’ll have a drink today,” he said with gallows humour.
The relief after the victories in Antwerp (1:0) and Munich (2:1) has once again given way to great disillusionment. After eleven competitive games with only those two victories, there are many questions and few answers. The only thing that is clear is the current situation: with a meagre eight points from eight games and only two points ahead of 16th place, Eintracht is currently in a relegation battle. That may look different in a few weeks – or it may not. Doubts about an imminent improvement are justified. After all, if even extremely fortunate victories like those in Antwerp and Munich apparently do not instil self-confidence and do not contribute to stabilisation, how can the urgently needed progress be made? Glasner’s work is made more difficult by the fact that only a few normal training sessions can take place against the background of the many English weeks and international match cancellations.
At times it looked as if the eleven men had met for the very first time
No team was on the pitch against Berlin. At times it looked as if the eleven men on the pitch had met for the very first time in their lives at 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon. At the back, even experienced players like Makoto Hasebe looked completely unsure and prone to mistakes, in midfield there was (once again) no one to pull the strings, and up front the newcomers Sam Lammers, Jesper Lindström and Jens Petter Hauge, who are still hopelessly overtaxed in the Bundesliga, were dabbling.
Even basic virtues were lacking, there was little or nothing to be seen of the disgusting style of play that has characterised Frankfurt for long stretches in recent years. When, for example, Lammers (50th) and Borré (87th) fell down and lamented after robust but rule-abiding duels, or Evan Ndicka simply let his opponent go, as he did before the 0:2, this did not reflect well on the attitude. More steadfastness, gallantry and calf-biting mentality are just as much in demand as tactical discipline.
Glasner must now quickly draw the right conclusions and find an eleven that feels confident, gets used to the game and is given tasks that are as easy as possible to fulfil. Changing the basic order all the time and shuffling the starting eleven cannot lead to success with an obviously unsettled team. In the coming weeks, the Austrian should rely on experienced players like Goncalo Paciencia and Daichi Kamada, especially in the offensive.
These players must also be forgiven for weaker performances, because they have already proven that they can keep up at this level. Kamada in particular must feel like he’s in the wrong film. After 15 assists and five goals last season, Hauge, who completely failed at AC Milan and whose suitability for the Bundesliga – at least at the moment – is still a question mark, is suddenly preferred to him. With such questionable personnel decisions, the coach makes himself vulnerable.
The verdict on the transfers is sobering
However, it does not cast a good light on the work of the new sporting director Markus Krösche when Paciencia is suddenly the new hopeful in the forward line. The Portuguese, who was unsuccessfully loaned out to Schalke last season, had no great prospects on the Main in the summer, and no obstacles would have been put in his way if he had wanted to transfer. At the moment, however, he is probably ahead of Lammers and Co. in a sporting comparison. Of course, it is possible that in a few months or years, the 2021 transfer summer will be judged differently, and perhaps one day the fans will fall at the feet of Lammers, Lindström, Hauge and Borré. But only the here and now can be judged, and the verdict is sobering: None of the offensive quartet has been a reinforcement so far. Borré is the most likely to make the breakthrough, but the Colombian international has only scored one goal in the season.
Sporting director Krösche, board spokesman Axel Hellmann and supervisory board chairman Philip Holzer did not show their faces in the press room after the final whistle. That is not unusual per se, but in view of the extremely poor performance and the memorable press conference, it was surprising that no one came to support the coach after his defeatist performance. This fitted in with the weak image that Eintracht presented on Saturday. This gave the impression – albeit certainly unintentional on the part of those responsible – that Glasner is pretty much alone in the public eye.
