Eintracht Frankfurt has to exist in the Europa League round of 16 at Ajax Amsterdam. The Dutch record champion, in a way, serves as a model for the Hesse. On the other hand, it should be a duel at eye level.
When Eintracht Frankfurt and Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday evening (9 p.m., live at HR-Info and in the AudioStream on Hessenschau.de) in the Europa League round of 16 meet for the first time in a competitive game, then two clubs meet that have a lot together. The Eintracht and Ajax are almost equal (founding years 1899 and 1900), have almost identical club colors (red-black white/white-red) and can both build on a passionate attachment.
The sporting philosophy of the European Cup controller is also relatively similar: Both are committed to making young players better, both do not have the standing in the highly jazzy football business, so that they can then keep the better-made players in the club. The difference: Ajax has internalized the “Training Club” system, which Eintracht has only discovered for itself in recent years, for decades.
“A few superstars have come out”
“What you can certainly learn from Ajax, and not only at Eintracht Frankfurt, is the great youth work that you do,” says SGE coach Dino Toppmöller. “A few superstars have come out.”
However, while Eintracht has to recruit its young talents from all over the world, the Dutch often simply use them with their own offspring. Ajax’s youth work, Toppmöller mentioned it, is legendary. The current squad is also peppered with hopeful talents that can achieve a lot and want to achieve even more. Examples: left -back Jorrel Hato (18, market value: 30 million euros), midfielder Kenneth Taylor (22, 16 million) or striker Brian Brobbey (23, 30 million), to name just a few.
Big name, but strikable
Ajax is a sonorous opponent for the Hesse, but none that you currently have to fear in terms of sport. Although the record champion in the Eredivisie is currently greeting again from the top of the table, but the achievements in the Europa League were at best mixed (4 victories, 1 draw, 3 defeats). In the playoffs, the Dutch would have flown out for a hair against Union Saint-Gilloise.
“It will be a game at eye level,” Toppmöller warned. And Captain Kevin Trapp added to the League face of the Dutch: “Ajax has not lost the last eight games. They are in a good mood, it will be a great game.”
It will be important to stand compact at the back and then to use the switching moments, the SGE trainer said. Of course, the fact that defense boss Robin Koch fails with a concussion does not make the whole thing easier, but the Eintracht is still positive to be able to take something countable from Amsterdam. “We have extreme desire for the game,” said Toppmöller.
This is how Eintracht could play at Ajax.
