2nd matchday
Eintracht frustration because of “cucumber penalty”
Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani (l) and Hertha’s Maximilian Mittelstädt fight for the ball. Photo
© Christophe Gateau/dpa
Eintracht Frankfurt feels in Berlin after a video study of the referee for the chance of winning. Penalty or not. Coach Oliver Glasner also recognizes his own deficits.
At least Kevin Trapp was able to laugh again quickly. With his blue captain’s armband, the Eintracht captain played casually on his wrist and reported on an unusual conversation with referee Frank Willenborg.
“Because he didn’t want to give a cucumber penalty,” he replied when asked about the controversial video study in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. Coach Oliver Glasner was not so relaxed about the piquant question after the revised penalty in the final phase of the 1-1 draw at Hertha BSC.
“Both teams had chances to win. In the end it was the referee who made the decision,” was the rather critical conclusion of the Frankfurt coach, who felt that Rafael Borré robbed him of his great chance of winning after Hertha goalkeeper Oliver Christensen put his hand on the ankle.
Black can understand Eintracht’s frustration
“The referee said it’s not a penalty for him, but for me it is,” said Glasner, but he also wanted to get the tiresome topic over with quickly. With a wry smile, he took note of Hertha trainer Sandro Schwarz’s assessment of the excitement scene. “I can understand the frustration on the Eintracht side,” said the new Hertha coach after winning his first point with the Berliners.
Frankfurt coach Glasner was surprisingly open in criticizing his team for an initially unedifying performance that enabled the Berliners to take the lead early on through Suat Serdar (3rd). “Our duel behavior on the defensive was disastrous,” was Glasner’s harsh verdict. Daichi Kamada’s equalizer (48th) at least brought the first point in the still young Bundesliga season for Frankfurt.
So where is Eintracht less than 100 days after the triumph in Seville and after a week of lessons from FC Bayern (1: 6) and Real Madrid (0: 2)? Glasner can no longer hear the talk of the Europa League intoxication. He asks for knowledge of the Frankfurt realities. “We can’t always talk about Europe, we were eleventh in the Bundesliga. If we want to improve, we have to play better than we do today,” grumbled the 47-year-old.
Trapp was also close to the current Frankfurt situation. “We have a lot of footballing quality. What we have to do better is the duel. If you’re always a step too late or don’t accept the duels, then it will be difficult,” said the goalkeeper.
Glasner is working on a new team structure
Glasner knows what he wants and needs to do. After saying goodbye to the pillars Martin Hinteregger (end of career) and Filip Kostic (Juventus Turin), he is working on a new structure. The three-man defense with Almamy Touré, Tuta and Evan Ndicka does not yet meet the requirements. After Touré’s failure due to muscular problems, veteran Makoto Hasebe stabilized the formation in Berlin. “If things continue like this, I hope that he will play until he is 45,” Glasner said of the 38-year-old Japanese.
After all, the mix is more right up front, even if the dual leadership as a tactical tool still takes some getting used to. “Of course I can imagine that, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it,” said the coach about his new tactic. Randal Kolo Muani as a striker raises great hopes in Frankfurt. “It doesn’t surprise me that we’re able to create scoring chances in every game,” said Glasner.