Whe has nothing to laugh about, at least he can make others laugh. Oliver Glasner closed Friday evening, which Eintracht Frankfurt considered so sad, with a little joke. Surprisingly, the coach took his player Filip Kostic off the field in the 74th minute of the 6-1 defeat in the opening game of the new Bundesliga season against FC Bayern. As a rule, the Serb is on the pitch for the entire game. So now Glasner should explain the unusual decision. His mischievous answer: “That he will be in top form in Italy next week.”
Speculations about Kostic’s future have long swirled around the football world. Juventus Turin is considered a potential target. However, according to sports director Markus Krösche from Italy, Eintracht has not received a concrete offer – “As of now.” This phrase has made people sit up and take notice in Frankfurt since Niko Kovac. The coach at the time explained that there was no reason to doubt that he would stay with Eintracht – “As of now”. It was his little verbal backdoor, which he quickly squeezed through. After an offer from Munich, the status was a little later completely different.
Kovac has long been history in Frankfurt, after which Adi Hütter and Glasner wrote new stories, and successful ones too. At the moment he can’t say anything more about the status at Kostic, Krösche said. “We’ll see what happens.” On Friday evening after the debacle against FC Bayern, he had completely different worries anyway. After his joke, Glasner also gave a serious answer to the question about Kostic’s shortened working day: “That he is in top form against Real Madrid. Filip started training late and is not yet at 100 percent of his physical fitness.” The Spanish club will be opponents in the European Supercup in Helsinki on Wednesday (9 p.m. on DAZN).
Five Bayern goals in one half
The Frankfurt anticipation of the duel with the famous name, which Eintracht has earned through the Europa League title, is badly clouded. “I’m not really looking forward to the Supercup. I have to let that sink in first if you get six at home in the first game,” said Krösche. Five fell for the permanent champion even in the first half. Joshua Kimmich (5th minute), Benjamin Pavard (11th), Sadio Mané (29th), Jamal Musiala (35th) and Serge Gnabry (43rd) scored early for Bayern, Musiala (83rd) later again, Randal Kolo Muani (64th) for harmony.
The French striker, who came on from FC Nantes before the season and at half-time on Friday, was one of Frankfurt’s very few bright spots. The great striker did not only impress with his goal, when he attacked Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and benefited from his mishap. After the break, Kolo Muani replaced the weak Rafael Borré and impressed with his physical presence and quick runs. “He’s unbelievably quick, strong in one-on-one combat, tall,” said his captain Sebastian Rode. Krösche also praised: “He really made a good debut.”
