Bundesliga
Frankfurt losers in luck: Europe is getting closer
Despite the defeat at FC Bayern: Frankfurt’s lead over Freiburg, Augsburg and Hoffenheim remained constant. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Eintracht Frankfurt loses in Munich – and still wins: Because the pursuers Freiburg, Augsburg and Hoffenheim make mistakes. Coach Toppmöller speaks of the “big goal”.
“The situation has actually improved,” said coach Dino Toppmöller after the 2-1 defeat against FC Bayern. Because there are now only three match days left. Frankfurt’s lead (45 points) over Freiburg (40), Augsburg (39) and also TSG Hoffenheim (39) remained constant. Freiburg lost 1:2 against VfL Wolfsburg, Augsburg lost 0:3 against SV Werder Bremen. And Hoffenheim had already opened the fourth-to-last Bundesliga matchday on Friday evening with a 2-3 win in Bochum.
“We want to take another step towards our big goal of defending our place next matchday against Bayer Leverkusen,” announced Toppmöller. Despite the defeat, there were “a lot of positive things” to take from the 90 minutes in Munich for the final push for participation in the European Cup, said the 43-year-old.
Eintracht’s sports director Markus Krösche warned that in the fight for international business, they should concentrate entirely on their own remaining program against Leverkusen, in Mönchengladbach and at the end of the season against RB Leipzig. “I just don’t bother with the other (clubs). Because that’s not my job. My job is that we play football, that we’re successful. I can’t influence the others anyway.”
Ekitiké scores again and has to go out injured
Toppmöller meanwhile praised striker Hugo Ekitiké, who scored again in Munich, as he had done a week earlier in the home win against Augsburg. “It was a great performance from him.” Unfortunately, he had to replace the Frenchman midway through the second half after a blow to his thigh. “We lost quality.”