Eintracht coach Glasner has to think about how to replace the injured defender Tuta and what will become of grandmaster Hasebe. Not an easy decision.
Frankfurt – After returning from the desert sun to inhospitable Frankfurt, the Brazilian Tuta von Eintracht Frankfurt first exchanged the ball for a heavy and rock-hard ball. Football isn’t in it at the moment anyway with the thick ankle, and then you can go bowling with your South American playmate Rafael Borre pass the time in harmony. Despite the stupid ankle injury, contracted in Dubai in the private game against Lech Posen after less than ten minutes, it worked quite well, a few strikes were easily possible on the track up in the Taunus. For Schalke 04, the opening opponents on Saturday in the Waldstadion, it should still be tight. Tuta is in danger of dropping out.
That puts Oliver Glasner right before a first task that needs to be solved, quite possible, that Tuta, as the missing link in the defense chain, sets off a chain reaction. Because the 23-year-old is in the right central defender position and was in the starting eleven in all competitive games in the first half of the season. He only missed one game due to a yellow-red suspension, the Champions League home game against Olympique Marseille. At that time, at the end of October, Kristijan Jakic took over his position. The Croatian is Eintracht’s all-rounder on the defensive, right, right outside, central in defence, central in midfield – you can rely on the all-rounder.
Defense question at Eintracht Frankfurt: Almamy Touré or Kristijan Jakic?
Coach Glasner didn’t have many options at the time, because Almamy Touré suffered a serious injury right at the start of the season and wasn’t even nominated for the premier class. Hrvoje Smolcic, also a trained central defender and therefore a candidate as a Tuta replacement, took over the middle part of the back three in the important 2-1 win over the French – veteran Makoto Hasebe had torn her inner ligament two weeks earlier. You have to know: Smolcic is left-footed and almost all coaches are reluctant to put their defenders on the “wrong” side. Therefore Smolcic in the middle, compatriot Jakic on the right.
The question for the match against the tail light from the Ruhrpott on Saturday is who will represent Tuta now? Almamy Touré has long been fit again and has even survived the strenuous preparation unscathed. The Frenchman has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with. In the final spurt of last season, he showed strong performances almost from the start and was a guarantee that Eintracht could be crowned Europa League champions on the night of Seville on May 18th. But the 26-year-old would be pretty much thrown in at the deep end, he played his last game – apart from a minute in November against Hoffenheim – in mid-August in a 1-1 draw in Berlin at Hertha. That was almost five months to the day. Game practice and competition toughness looks different, of course. Especially since Touré has problems performing at a high level over a longer period of time.
Eintracht Frankfurt: With Jakic there would also be experience in defense
So again Kristijan Jakic? The World Cup participant should actually be used more in his traditional position in defensive midfield. On the other hand: With the 25-year-old you know what you are getting, you can trust him blindly, he has rarely disappointed his coach. He is an absolute team player and nothing is too bad, always gives everything – no matter what position. With his attitude, dedication and sacrifice, he is an important factor for this team. It would also have the advantage that Glasner would have an indomitable fighter on the field. Because the coach expects an opponent who will be very robust and physical.
With Jakic in defense there would also be experience in the game. Because when Tuta had to leave the field in the friendly against Lech Posen, Evan Ndicka was the oldest player in the defense chain at the age of 23. “You noticed that,” says Glasner. “We have occasionally lacked sovereignty. These are important insights for me.”
Eintracht Frankfurt: Hrvoje Smolcic, a leader
Because the football teacher is also considering who should give the libero against Schalke. That was against the Poles in Dubai, like back then against Marseille or in the last game of the old year in the second half against Mainz 05, Hrvoje Smolcic. The 22-year-old does it very solidly and prudently. However, he wobbled in the test match one or the other time. “He was infected by our unforced errors,” says Glasner. “You can see that he’s only 22.” Overall, the defender, who came from Rijeka, is “on the right track,” says the coach. “He’s loud on the pitch, the born leader.” At his ex-club he was already captain at the age of 20. This is certainly no coincidence.
Glasner also builds on the header strength of the massive defensive power. “That can’t be entirely unimportant against Simon Terodde.” The Schalke striker has a standard height of 1.92 meters and is a constant threat to opponents in the air. So that would fit. Superficially and purely anatomically seen.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Makoto Hasebe takes the game to another level
On the other hand, Glasner would rob his eleven of a great strength. Because especially against an opponent who is more focused on destruction, it is necessary to have a clever and anticipatory strategist like Makoto Hasebe on the field. He gives the game a different note from behind, Eintracht has played their best games with him and managed the turnaround again this season. The Japanese, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Wednesday, takes the game to another level.
And: The argument that the opposing center forward is big only applies to a limited extent. Almost all teams have either a tall or a very fast attacker in their ranks – in this respect Makoto Hasebe shouldn’t play anymore, because he’s neither the strongest in the air nor the fastest. But the truth is: Hasebe was able to keep up against almost all opponents, no matter how big or fast, even the great Harry Kane congratulated him on a fantastic performance against him at the time – the Tottenham striker saw no land against the old hand in the first leg.
In addition, with Kristijan Jakic, if Glasner puts him up, there would be a strong, persistent player at Hasebe’s side who can do the rough work. And: It is not necessarily to be expected that the already battered Schalke take over the game in such a way to put the Eintracht cover under constant pressure. Long balls and a few counterattacks are to be expected. The Bundesliga oldie can still catch them. Would have been laughed. (Ingo Durstewitz)
