Eintracht Frankfurt before the season finale: In the tunnel towards Europe

DThe message came punctually at 12 p.m. – and it’s no surprise that Philipp Max will continue to be on the ball for Eintracht in the future. It was expected that those responsible in Frankfurt would take the purchase option, which means that the left-back now has an employment contract that is valid up to and including June 30, 2026.

Max has settled in well at Eintracht since moving from the Netherlands. Max was under contract with PSV Eindhoven for two and a half years. On the last day of the winter transfer period, the chance to return to the Bundesliga and to a new club: Eintracht Frankfurt beckoned. Max has played for Hessen in 13 games so far. Most recently, a hamstring injury prevented him from providing stability and momentum on the left flank. It is conceivable and very likely that he will receive more playing time in the remaining two competitive games.

So two more games. Then this season will be over, and so will be the end of Oliver Glasner. The man who, as a coach, made Eintracht the Europa League winner in Seville will turn to new tasks after two highly successful years. But his project is not over yet. The 47-year-old football teacher wants to bring Eintracht back to Europe as a parting gift. Like weeks ago, he still thinks he is “in the tunnel” for this goal, as the Austrian said before the last home game against Sportclub Freiburg this Saturday (3:30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky).

Finally, all nine games in the Bundesliga kick off at the same time at 3:30 p.m. This was also the norm on the penultimate day of the game for years. But the fragmentation with different kick-off times on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays has already clarified some sporting question marks in the previous week, such as that of the first relegated Hertha BSC, the rescued TSG Hoffenheim or RB Leipzig, who is again eligible to play in the Champions League. It is unclear whether Eintracht will manage to qualify for Europe as they are currently bottom of the table through their core business, the Bundesliga. A win against Freiburg is a must – and the competitors must also play along in the spirit of unity.

Wolfsburg and Leverkusen are in front of Glasner’s squad, who themselves face the challenging task of defeating Freiburg again. The last win against the sports club in the Frankfurt Arena was almost exactly two years ago. The 3: 1, shot out on May 22, 2021, was also a farewell performance, as the Eintracht audience will also be offered in May 2023. At that time it was the last Bundesliga game of the departing Eintracht coach Adi Hütter, who then said goodbye to the Lower Rhine because he saw better prospects for himself there. A fallacy, as it quickly turned out.

So now the déjà vu with Freiburg. Again, the Breisgauer are the last point game opponent of Eintracht, and their coach is still called Christian Streich. Just like Glasner, Streich also wants to make a difference on this last day of the season. Freiburg can still make it into the Champions League. They have already qualified for the Europa League.

Europa League – Eintracht can certainly achieve that if they win the DFB Cup final against RB Leipzig on June 3rd. But Glasner doesn’t think that far. “We must not lose focus,” he said. “I’m still absolutely in the tunnel and want to catch the Europa exit. I don’t worry about anything else.” The coach claims that his players felt during the past week of training that “they didn’t take it easy to be fit for Berlin. They all really want to win against Freiburg. Against Freiburg you have the opportunity to recommend yourself for the starting XI in Berlin.”

As so often before, Glasner said this time “that I go into the game with a very good feeling”. When looking at his team, the Eintracht coach spoke of a “good mix of fun and seriousness” and the “greed to win at all costs”. With all the many disappointments that this second half of the season brought for Eintracht, which was still in fourth place in the first series, Glasner also sees this: “We are undefeated at home in the league and cup in 2023.” Glasner decided to “give the fans a great farewell. You deserve it.”