Eintracht Frankfurt is reeling worrisomely and the team’s crisis is getting worse. A flood of goals conceded, no wins, no head coach – and deep-seated problems. There are bangs in every corner of the club. An analysis.
Two quotes from the weekend. “I think we’re super sexy. That’s Eintracht Frankfurt, that’s an extremely exciting club for every player, for every coach.” Sports director Markus Krösche at Sky.
“Sporting success or failure always depends on the environment. It is not surprising that Axel Hellmann raised a warning finger. The statements in the winter tell me: There are a lot of things that are wrong, not just the results.” DAZN expert Sami Khedira.
Both statements were made before Eintracht’s game against Hoffenheim. Before Frankfurt’s next defeat, before the next three goals conceded. And after the 1:3, the fifth competitive game in a row without a win, it is clear: World champion Khedira hits the nail on the head with his statement.
Focus on Eintracht Frankfurt – there are bangs in every corner.
team
Failed badly in the Champions League (only 1 win in 7 games). In seventh place in the Bundesliga, they are still within striking distance, but after only one win in the last eight games, they are well on the way to risking the goal of “international competition”. And with an insane 63 goals conceded in 28 competitive games, they are a laughing stock in Europe.
This team is no longer one. Not because she doesn’t want to, but because she can’t. Each individual is only concerned with themselves and with not making any mistakes. And yet in every game at least one person makes a serious mistake. Result: Total uncertainty, slapstick actions, signs of disintegration after the first goal was conceded.
Eintracht has been struggling with these problems for months, but a solution has not yet been found. Neither from the leading players who are no longer leaders – Koch, Kristensen, Theate, Skhiri, Götze; the list is endless. Nor from the trainers or the bosses.
In any case, all attempts to turn things around have failed. Tough Krösche speeches – fizzled out. Separation from trainer Dino Toppmöller – ineffective. Demoting defender Theate to the bench against Hoffenheim – fruitless.
The following suspicion makes matters worse: the players seem to have a fitness problem. Toppmöller wasn’t really happy with the athletics department, but he missed making a clear announcement. Instead, after Can Uzun’s serious muscle injury, he reduced training to avoid further failures.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s former women’s coach Julia Simic said in the “double pass”: “The topic of fitness is very important at Eintracht right now. I ask myself the question: Is the fitness good enough?” Now striker hope Arnaud Kalimuendo (two goals and one assist in three games) had to be replaced with muscular problems.
Trainer
A week ago, Toppmöller had to leave Frankfurt, and sports boss Krösche has been looking for a successor ever since. And he doesn’t seem to have really made any progress yet. The desired solution is still Marco Rose, but the whole thing is turning into a tough affair. Because Leipzig wants a transfer. And because Eintracht currently presents a too shattered and chaotic picture. The candidates will probably think twice.
Sky expert Lothar Matthäus stated: “That’s actually not Markus Krösche. Actually, he always has at least one choice when it comes to coaching. He certainly has that, but most of the time he has already presented someone. That was the case in the past: If he knew that a player was being sold, he actually already had a replacement. That’s why I’m surprised that Dino Toppmöller left and in the end they’re still looking for a solution.”
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And so the interim duo Dennis Schmitt and Alex Meier will remain in office for the time being. In any case in the last, insignificant game in the Champions League on Wednesday against Tottenham (9 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) and probably also next Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen (3:30 p.m., also in the WELT sports ticker).
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ultras
The general meeting this Monday evening (5.30 p.m.) will be a test for Eintracht. The Ultras around Frankfurt’s Vice President Benjamin von Loefen are raising their voices. One of its important representatives was not allowed to stand for election to the board of directors. Reason: The applicant had nothing to show that would have justified candidacy. Nevertheless, the ultras are now publicly demanding a well-paid position on the supervisory board and more influence in the football association.
“We are of the opinion that the composition of the supervisory board of the football association is not optimal. We think that the Eintracht fans should also have a say there, because we are just as important a part of Eintracht as donors, experts or club committees,” says the ultra-postille “BLACK-ON-WHITE”.
The Ultras also accuse both president and supervisory board boss Mathias Beck and board spokesman Axel Hellmann of nepotism with a view to a possible contract extension for Hellmann this year. “The biggest coincidence is that contract talks with Axel Hellmann are taking place this year. Who is conducting them? The main committee of the supervisory board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball-AG, represented by Beck, Felix Wirmer and Sven Janssen.”
According to information from “Bild”, the salaries of the entire board of directors and Beck’s income are a big thorn in the side of the Ultras. There is talk of envy and resentment on the part of the ultras. Others talk about how the ultras want to gain power and money themselves and therefore want a seat on the supervisory board. “Especially when it comes to the interests of the football club, we are kept away from certain information and guard it like Uncle Scrooge protects his money bank,” says the letter from the Ultras. With a view to the contracts of Beck, Hellmann and Co. it is written about a “self-service shop”.
If you read the Ultras’ pamphlet, you get the idea that the organized fan scene also wants some of the AG’s money…
