The game was basically over and there could be no greater doubt from the way the game went that the Super Cup would end up in Real Madrid’s showcases. But Oliver Glasner, the Eintracht Frankfurt coach, ordered a few player changes that at least told something of the ambition that SBU should have. He placed Argentine centre-forward Lucas Alario with Randal Kolo Muani, also a centre-forward, who had come onto the field to support centre-forward Lucas Borré.
The Frankfurt tautology in the offensive row did not change the result that Real Madrid had achieved with goals from David Alaba (37th minute) and Karim Benzema (65th). But: If you’re already there and maybe someone rolls in after all…? So why not “bring out all the offensive power that was there?” So thought Glasner.
Alario, Borré and Kolo weren’t standing on each other’s feet, as is often the case when there are two or three nominal nines together on the field, as is the case here. However, they did not exude harmony, “they were too often in the same line,” explained Glasner. On the other hand: Alario and Kolo have only just found harmony – how should they know each other or have already internalized the routes of their colleagues? Of course, Glasner didn’t see it as dramatic. This was more important to him: “These games, even if they are painful defeats, help us to become competitive at this level,” said Glasner, as he sat very happily in the wood-panelled auditorium of the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki.
“Our benchmark is not Real Madrid, our benchmark is Hertha BSC,” says manager Krösche
Manager Markus Krösche had appeared a few rooms away, and his eyes were clearly not watering either, because Eintracht had missed a title. “Our benchmark is not Real Madrid, our benchmark is the Bundesliga and Hertha BSC,” said the sports director with a view to the next game on Saturday in Berlin.
And anyway: If there is something to take away, then this: that Eintracht had done a lot better than on Friday when they were beaten by FC Bayern at the start of the Bundesliga, were 0:5 behind at the break and then 1: 6 lost. And who knows: taking a bath in a substance called humility might not even do so badly for Eintracht in the future.
Eintracht is not ready for opponents like Real Madrid.
(Photo: Antonio Calanni/AP)
Because what Eintracht did on various continental trips last year was remarkable. Victory in the Europa League and the associated, first-time qualification for the Champions League – of course that still has an effect. At the same time, these successes were a single invitation to the easily euphoric environment to forget that the club had only ended up in 11th place in the Bundesliga. Now the Frankfurters were confronted with reality in the first game without Filip Kostic. Kostic, who had shone so often on the left flank of Frankfurt, is about to move to Juventus Turin.
“We have seen that it is not enough for this level and this opponent today. Anyone who knows me knows that it gnaws at me quite a bit internally. I find it difficult to accept something like that,” said Coach Glasner. Incidentally, he opted for the same measure as his Real Madrid colleague Carlo Ancelotti. The honor of playing the Supercup final went to those who brought about the victories last season. Additions like Mario Götze (Eintracht) or Antonio Rüdiger (Madrid) had to be left out. That gave Glasner the opportunity to get his fill of the Madrid champions’ determination and passion at close range.
“How Casemiro tackles the outside line, with what incredible mentality Militão heads a corner kick out 30 meters” or how Benzema prevailed against two Frankfurters in a dogfight before Alaba’s opening goal – according to Glasner, these were small scenes that symbolized “things that also are required at this level, and which are easier to achieve than the footballing quality of Luka Modric or Toni Kroos.” Because yes: This quality was also there – although the midfield clearer Casemiro for Man of the match was determined. For good reasons.
And yet: The Austrian Glasner saw, after all, defensive stability over long stretches and also good ball possession phases from time to time, which Real coach Ancelotti also recognized. “It was more difficult than you might think,” said the former Bayern coach. “Today’s performance makes me pretty confident for the next few weeks,” said Glasner. The trip to Berlin is still uncomfortable for him.
The trip to Helsinki cost substance; The fact that Frankfurt’s wish for the Bundesliga match at Hertha to be moved from Saturday to Sunday was not complied with made the Austrian rumble, at least by his standards. “We would have preferred a different start because we represented Germany and the German Bundesliga today. Now we have to get going in Berlin on Saturday – when it’s over 30 degrees.” With presumably heavy legs.