Anyone who sticks with Eintracht Frankfurt hopes for more appearances in the second half of the season, such as the intoxicating 4-2 win against Hoffenheim. Image: dpa / Arne Dedert
Bundesliga
Many Eintracht Frankfurt fans should have stopped pinching themselves long ago. Because the dream they’re in just won’t end.
The sensational Europa League victory in May was followed by another outstanding half of the season. With fourth place in the Bundesliga and the ticket for the Champions League round of 16, coach Oliver Glasner’s team once again exceeded all expectations and said goodbye to the winter break in style.
Eintracht starts against Schalke
Now the long break is almost over and preparations for the Bundesliga restart on Saturday are in full swing. At the start against Schalke 04 (3.30 p.m.) Frankfurt wants to show its fans the thrilling attacking football againwho brought so much sympathy to the team across clubs in the first half of the season.
Oliver Glasner formed Eintracht Frankfurt into a top team. Image: dpa / Arne Dedert
With 32 goals, Eintracht has the second-best offensive in the league. Only FC Bayern is even more accurate with 49 goals. It’s the same when you look at the away table: No team, except Bayern, has been more successful than SGE in away games in the first half of the season.
Fitness and clever transfers characterize Frankfurt’s success
Also noteworthy: the Eintracht players are only rarely injured despite triple strain, an average of just 16.38 days. According to a statistical analysis by “fussballmoralen.com” only Union Berlin was better in this respect.
Another reason for Frankfurt’s success story is undoubtedly the clever transfer policy. Year after year, Eintracht manages to compensate for the loss of top performers and to set up a new, powerful team. A few newcomers stood out again this season with Mario Götze, Junior Dina Ebimbe and Randal Kolo Muani. The latter is the second-best scorer in the league with five goals and ten assists behind Bayern’s Jamal Musiala (nine goals, seven assists).
Firecrackers against Naples and Darmstadt are waiting
In view of the recent strong performances, the difficult tasks ahead in February appear feasible. In the round of 16 of the DFB Cup, Eintracht welcomes Darmstadt 98, currently the best team in the 2nd Bundesliga. Three weeks later, on February 21, the next tough task awaits: Italian leaders SSC Napoli are coming to Frankfurt for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
In the duel with the in-form Gli Azzuri, the frenetic Frankfurt fans will certainly be an essential factor again. The noisy setting in the former Waldstadion is unique in Europe and has already shaken many other top clubs.
Eintracht Frankfurt fans passionately cheer on their team at every Champions League game.Image: IMAGO/Jan Huebner
Frankfurt’s successful squad has stayed together so far
As of now, Oliver Glasner can tackle the second half of the season with an almost unchanged squad. That’s amazing, because Frankfurt’s extraordinary success has brought many rivals onto the scene.
Glasner himself, for example, was linked to Chelsea FC and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was contacted by FC Bayern. Center forward Randal Kolo Muani, who performed well for France at the World Cup in Qatar, is said to have been courted by Bayern and Manchester United.
The fact that it has been so quiet in Frankfurt despite all these potential sources of conflict is primarily thanks to sports director Markus Krösche. So far, he has managed exceptionally well to moderate the transfer rumors about Frankfurt’s coveted stars.
Onguéné has gone, Aaronson has come
Only one player has left the team so far: central defender Jérôme Onguéné – who was not used in the first half of the season due to a number of injuries – has been loaned out to RB Salzburg. In addition, center forward Rafael Borré could say goodbye to Eintracht. The Colombian has been benched by Kolo Muani and has already made it clear that he wants to leave.
On the new signing side, 19-year-old offensive talent Paxten Aaronson has been signed. Signed from Philadelphia for 4 million euros, the American should now be carefully built up and used to the intensity of the Bundesliga.
Paxten Aaronson plays in attacking midfield like Daichi Kamada, Jesper Lindstrom and Mario Götze.Image: IMAGO/HMB Media
Captain Sebastian Rode will disembark at the end of the following season. The 32-year-old has already announced that he will end his football career in 2024. Rode is leaving as a club legend and will leave a huge void in the fabric of the team.
There is also a change going on in defense. In view of the impending departure of Evan Ndicka, Glasner did not hesitate and has already announced his new defensive boss: The young Croatian Hrvoje Smolcic should fix it. “He is a born leader and very loud on the pitch,” Glasner told “picture“.
At its best, Frankfurt can keep up with almost anyone
If Eintracht can keep the players they are courting, continue to be spared the bad luck with injuries and the offensive artists Götze, Lindström, Kamada and Kolo Muani continue to whirl like they have been, the SGE need not hide from any opponent. Then it’s not unrealistic that Frankfurt will play the Champions League again next season.
With its passionate fans and Glasner’s attractive attacking football, Eintracht is already a real enrichment for Europe’s premier class.
After two years in the midst of the global hustle and bustle of Formula 1, Mick Schumacher should now experience a more relaxed season. Although the 23-year-old has made it his goal to be present at each of the 23 races, he will not be spending much time on the track.
