Frustration at Eintracht
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Eintracht Frankfurt is going into the second half of the Bundesliga with a lot of work to do. And with worries about the ailing new signing Younes Ebnoutalib. Things “don’t look quite so good” for the striker, said coach Dino Toppmöller after the 2:3 (1:2) defeat at VfB Stuttgart.
An MRI examination should provide more precise information. Ebnoutalib suffered a blow to the leg in the game on Tuesday evening and was substituted after just 20 minutes. He later left the stadium with a knee brace and crutches. Four days after his dream debut in the Bundesliga, it was a bitter setback for the 8 million euro winter purchase from second division club SV Elversberg. “We hope for the best,” said Toppmöller.
“Vogelwild”: Sharp criticism from Eintracht Frankfurt’s Krösche
Frankfurt’s weak defensive performance is likely to cause at least as much headache. The Hessians conceded 36 goals in the first 17 league games of the season – a miserable record. “We have to work on our defensive structure,” demanded sports director Markus Krösche. After the interim 1-1 draw in Stuttgart, the team “completely lost” and at times played “completely wild”.
After their late equalizer to make it 2:2, Eintracht had to accept the 2:3. This “cheap goal” made him “brutally excited,” emphasized coach Toppmöller. It ensured that Frankfurt remained winless for the third time in a row and is further behind the European Cup ranks.
Goalkeeper Kauã Santos once again in focus
There are also likely to be new discussions about goalkeeper Kauã Santos. The Brazilian, who had meanwhile lost his regular place to Michael Zetterer and had become number one again at the turn of the year, made a big mistake before the 1-1 draw. As a result, he initially seemed completely unsettled.
The situation was “not easy for the boy,” said Krösche. But he “came back really well in the second half.” The 22-year-old made two strong saves against Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav. After he had a heated argument with teammate Arthur Theate in the first half, the goalkeeper received a lot of encouragement from his colleagues during the break, Toppmöller reported.
