There is actually nothing that Adi Hütter hasn't already tried. New personnel, new system, and in the end even a lesson for captain Robin Koch - but the Eintracht Frankfurt coach simply can't get the flood of goals conceded under control. The 0:6 at RB Leipzig can be viewed as a new low. As a result, players and coaches refrained from sugar-coating, which was sometimes publicly preferred, and instead there was a ruthless reckoning.
"We failed again. We didn't hold the place together again. This isn't the first time this season," said national player Jonathan Burkardt about Eintracht's leading players. The attacker also counts himself among them. After five match days in the Bundesliga, there are only five points on the credit side. However, the 16 goals conceded are much more serious. “That’s a board,” said goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.
Burkardt had already identified the core of the problem in the belly of the Leipzig stadium. "For me it's not a system question, for me it's not a personnel question. It's a question of attitude and responsibility," said the 26-year-old. It is “quite clear” that there is currently no discernible upward trend. In Leipzig they ran into the open knife. After just five minutes they were 2-0 down, and two goals conceded within three minutes shortly before half-time finally broke Eintracht's morale.
“If you defend like that, it’s simply not suitable for the Bundesliga,” complained Hütter. On the sidelines, the coach appeared to calmly acknowledge the goals conceded, but inside he was seething. "Where we have to use the leverage is the goals conceded. There were so many last year, now there are so many again," said the 56-year-old. Frankfurt suffered 65 goals in the previous season. Hütter was brought back primarily to strengthen the team defensively.
The symbol of the crisis is, of all people, the captain. He first showed what Hütter thought of Robin Koch's performance by replacing the national player at half-time. After the debacle was over, the coach sent clear words to his defense chief. "I just expect something completely different from a captain and leading player. If you score 16 goals and are the leader in defense, then at some point I'll set an example," said Hütter. With the substitution he saved Koch.
The dismantling of the 30-year-old was entirely deliberate. "He should be the leader in defense, we concede too many goals. That's why I sent a signal," said Hütter. The coach also switched from a three-man to a four-man chain. However, nothing improved, as goalkeeper Atubolu illustrated: “I had between times the feeling we are two men less.”
The dismantling of Koch was also the topic of the Sport 1 program “Doppelpass”. Former national player Stefan Effenberg sharply criticized Hütter for his personnel measures on Sunday. "You don't take your captain off the pitch, even if it's 4-0 at halftime. Because then you expect a captain in a difficult phase to try to sort out certain things again in the second half. That's a sign that is clear and clear," explained Effenberg - and added: "I'm not a fan of doing that at all. I would have replaced five others, but not my captain. I would have left him on."
Hütter and mental work
Hütter now has to start with the attitude mentioned by Burkardt. “The passion, the greed simply has to come back,” said the coach. The Hessians want to work on this during the week. However, it is rather short, as 1. FC Cologne comes on Friday evening (8.30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker). They should actually be a welcome opponent, but Eintracht haven't won at home so far this season.
Of course, there was a small change at Eintracht in the summer, mainly in defense. Regular players like Nathaniel Brown, Rasmus Kristensen and Aurèle Amenda were sold. And Hütter also emphasizes that after a 0:6 you naturally ask yourself "where the arguments are. There aren't many." Nevertheless, he believes in the team - and sees himself particularly in demand as mental support in the coming days: "As a coach, you have to draw out positive things and take the boys by the hand."
