Eintracht Frankfurt and the problems on the outside track: lost the way to the right
-
fromIngo Durstewitz
conclude
Frankfurter Eintracht and their big problem area: five players fell through on the right wing.
Frankfurt am Main – When the long-time favorite Danny da Costa returned from the Mainzer Bruchweg to the Frankfurt city forest in the summer, he was welcomed with open arms and warmly welcomed into the lap of the Eintracht Frankfurt family. The new sports director Markus Krösche still knows the right runner from his time in Leverkusen, where he used to work as the assistant to head coach Roger Schmidt . Since Costa, other Krösche is clear even after his six-month flying visit to neighboring Mainz 05, he will definitely return – in contrast to Dominik Kohr, who is also on loan. “Danny can help us to achieve our goals.” And the 28-year-old, worn down by the disturbed, even broken relationship with ex-trainer Adi Hütter, rejoiced: “It’s as if I’ve never been away.” It started off quite well , the flaming liaison, the return to the old love.
Da Costa, a young family man and married to the daughter of Eintracht legend Uwe Bein, was highly motivated and committed to the tips of his hair, someone wanted to know and grab his chance, and it was no surprise that Oliver Glasner got him nominated for the starting XI at the beginning of the season. In the cup in Mannheim and in the first Bundesliga game in Dortmund, da Costa took his traditional position on the right side, but he could not convince, both times he played very badly – like the entire team.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Danny da Costa set the bar high
And yet there Costa, a sensitive man, sat outside for the first time. His self-confidence, which he regained in Mainz and made it flourish again, fell by the wayside on the short stretch, although the coach Hütter, whom he did not love, has not been there for a long time.
For da Costa, it was still enough to collect three appearances, one in the Europa League against Fenerbahce, also completely left out in the surprise victory in Munich. In the last four Bundesliga games there was no more space for him in the 20-man squad – grandstand guest Danny da Costa, crashed and fallen deep. And the right side of Eintracht has therefore become a major problem area next to the storm and the defensive midfield.
It was precisely the Rhinelander who had set the bar so high himself: In the phenomenal 2018/19 season, he powered himself into the atmosphere of the national team, he was in the starting line-up in all 50 competitive games, he almost always played through. “We have to wrap him in cotton,” joked Coach Hütter. The internal relationship was admittedly already strained. With Danny da Costa’s loss of confidence and the resulting loss of form, the right-hand side began to become a tricky case for Eintracht Frankfurt – still unsolved to this day.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trainer Oliver Glasner tests cheerfully
Coach Glasner has now tested a total of five players on the position – without being one step further. It is now pointless to speculate whether the football teacher generally does not trust the candidates enough or withdraws it too quickly. The fact is that the ideal solution in this very special interplay has certainly not yet been found. It’s not up to the coach, it’s a question of quality.
Most recently, the coach tried again with Erik Durm, who was also replaced in Fürth after the first half – weakened by a gastrointestinal infection that had cost him the European Cup game in Piraeus. Durm, 29 and member of the German world championship troupe from 2014 in Brazil, is perhaps the most solid player for this position, an official worker with a decent basic speed
Almamy Touré, who came on for Durm in Fürth, is a whole lot more stormy, the Frenchman has the highest disposition. But the 25-year-old has considerable lack of concentration, cannot call up his performance constantly, but IS very fluctuating in his efforts. Touré, brother Leichtfuß, was awarded the maximum penalty in Franconia: Glasner replaced him and replaced him shortly before the end. The Austrian didn’t like the defensive work – and bang, out.
Eintracht Frankfurt: is Costa about to return to Mainz?
Instead, he brought Timothy Chandler, whom he rightly called the “old warrior” and who was in the starting eleven three times in a row, only to be relegated to the stands in the following game after a weak first half against Hertha BSC. Coach Glasner knows no mercy, he doesn’t hesitate for long. It’s not really trust-building or particularly educational, but the 47-year-old is not someone who lets players completely die, it usually gives them a second or third chance. Only Danny da Costa has been waiting for it for a while. Tender contacts to Mainz are said to have already been made again, the clever mind is deeply frustrated.
Aymen Barkok had to be patient for a similar time before he was allowed to play again. The technician is actually more of a creative mind, but in all his desperation Glasner recently tried the Moroccan international as the right link in the five-man chain – against RB Leipzig as a substitute. The 23-year-old, meanwhile with a knee injury, breathed new life into a lifeless team in his half-hour performance, dared something, bravely marched up and down the flank. As a reward, Barkok was allowed to play in the following Europa League game in Piraeus from the start – and offered a miserable performance. Glasner, see above, reacted resolutely and immediately banished the boy from Frankfurt to the stands at short notice. “Aymen showed against Leipzig that he can do it well,” said Glasner. “Against Olympiacos he didn’t have the constancy.” And bye. Barkok, whose predecessor Adi Hütter is already on the wings, WILL take a new attempt and first have to get in line.
So this day old warrior Timmy Chandler was asked what was so difficult to run up there on the right. “Basically, this position is not difficult to play,” said the 31-year-old. “But there is currently no constant. But those who are nominated by the coach there die, try their best. ”Sometimes the best is not good enough. (Ingo Durstewitz)