Super Cup vs Real Madrid
“Notice how messed up the business is”: Trouble at Eintracht Frankfurt before the dream final because of Kostic’s change
Victory in the Europa League final: Filip Kostic at the moment of the greatest triumph
© Arne Dedert / DPA
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic will not play in the Supercup final against Real Madrid because he is about to move to Juventus. This causes some in the club to be upset. One question is more important: Where does Eintracht stand in terms of sport?
On the evening before the big game against Real Madrid, the President of Eintracht Frankfurt, Peter Fischer, had to breathe: “If you ever have the chance to play in the Supercup final (live on RTL from 8.15 p.m.), against Real Madrid, not against the Wetterau, Real Madrid! If you then get the award for the best player in the Europa League down there on the pitch, in front of 500 countries that are looking somewhere, and you don’t do it, then I realize how messed up the business is at the end of the day,” said Fischer, who rarely minces his words once he’s in the mood.
What annoys Fischer and some others in Frankfurt: Filip Kostic, one of the best and most important Frankfurt players of the past four years, would like to leave the club for Juventus Turin. Negotiations are apparently ongoing and the Italians are said to have insisted that the left winger no longer play for Eintracht. This is quite common in the industry, after all, the mandatory club does not want to take the risk of injury. This is annoying for the Europa League winner from Frankfurt because Kostic is one of the top performers. Replacing him in sport is the biggest challenge.
Others are more relaxed about Kostic’s waiver
Others in the club see it more calmly. “Of course it’s a shame, Filip wrote history with the club and did a lot for the club. He goes as a hero who played a big part in this whole thing,” said goalkeeper Kevin Trapp in praise of his colleagues. That’s exactly how coach Oliver Glasner and sports director Markus Krösche see it, who praised Kostic (“hero”) and showed understanding. He has always behaved in an exemplary manner, so no obstacles are put in his way.
Maybe Fischer’s anger is due to a certain nervousness. On Wednesday evening, Frankfurt will be on the big stage in the European Supercup in Helsinki. It’s not just against the Champions League winners, but against the most successful and biggest club in the world. More glamor is hardly possible. When Eintracht last played against Real Madrid, they paid the Spaniards an entrance fee. It was a pre-season friendly in August 2008 and ended 1-1. This time they face each other in an official final, which doesn’t have much value in Germany, but it does.
Glasner emphasized that he felt “very good” and that the Supercup was a “reward” for the Europa League title. But after the debacle against Bayern (lost 6-1) last Friday at the start of the Bundesliga, the euphoria after the Europa League title should have slowly evaporated and unity should have returned to reality.
The defensive failed against Bayern
The big question is: Where is Eintracht? Against Bayern, Frankfurt revealed exceptional weaknesses on the defensive. With such a performance, Eintracht would not play a role in either the Bundesliga or the Champions League, for which they are qualified. The fact that Bayern presented themselves in impressive form and would probably have won if there was more resistance doesn’t change that. Eintracht Frankfurt definitely wants to avoid a second debacle. Two hearty defeats at the beginning of the season could be a bit too depressing for the mood.
Nevertheless, some at Eintracht secretly dream of extending last season’s Europa League frenzy into the new season – despite the outsider role. The shining example is of course the unbelievable success at FC Barcelona; a game almost like from another planet.
“We’ll just get this stupid thing – and then I’ll drink from it too,” said Fischer on Wednesday night. After all, the Frankfurters have a big advantage among the fans who traveled with them. Around 10,000 support their team in the Finnish capital, only 1,800 tickets were sold to Real supporters.
Sources: DPA, “Frankfurter Rundschau”
