Football: Cup success gives Glasner air

According to captain Sebastian Rode, the victory in Stuttgart was “balm for the soul” after Frankfurt had previously panted in vain for a win in nine Bundesliga games. Almost exactly a year after the triumph in the Europa League, Eintracht is only one win away from another title. On June 3rd, defending champions RB Leipzig are waiting for Glasner’s boys in the cup final in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

The Austrian coach of Hessen, who are in a cup final – national or international – for the fourth time in the past six years, was “insanely happy” and praised the “willpower” of his team: “If you play with Eintracht Frankfurt in two years two finals, once in the Europa League and once in the DFB Cup, then I just have to pay the boys a huge compliment,” said the 48-year-old: “I’m so incredibly proud that we filmed this game here today and 3: 2 won.” The players would give “everything for Eintracht, everything for the eagle” in every game.

Criticism due to increased expectations

But there has been a lot of speculation and talk about Glasner in recent weeks: that he could leave Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer despite a contract that runs until 2024, that his relationship with parts of the team is no longer completely intact and that there are also differences of opinion between him and the sports director Markus Krösche give. The Upper Austrian, who is said to have been courted by top European clubs, had denied this and recently emphasized several times that he expected to continue training Frankfurt in the coming season.

After the victory in Stuttgart, he now made it clear how much all these discussions bothered him. “I can’t quite understand a lot of things,” says Glasner. Up until two years ago, a round like this would have been “an excellent season for Eintracht,” he said. Ninth place in the league, knockout round in the Champions League, final in the DFB Cup – the people of Frankfurt have certainly seen worse times.

“This shows again what boundaries we have apparently shifted over the past two years because it has now led to our work and mine being called into question. As if all of that wasn’t good enough for Eintracht,” explained Glasner and added again: “I often can’t do anything with it.”

“Wide awake under the floodlights”

Frankfurt’s sports director also emphasized the importance of promotion to the final. “Extremely important” was the win against VfB, said Krösche. “Especially after this long dry spell and the criticism, which is rightly there and should still be there. We’re still not satisfied with the last few weeks,” said the manager, referring to the dry spell in the championship. After CEO Axel Hellmann cleared up the rumors about his possible departure this week, the cup success could unleash further strength.

Midfielder Rode also admitted that the long negative series had “worn on my nerves”. But the current strength in cup competitions came to the fore at the right moment: “We seem to be wide awake on floodlit nights,” said Rode with a smile. Titles are “what is remembered in the end,” said his teammate Djibril Sow. “If we could do that again, it would be a great two years for Eintracht Frankfurt.”