Rumors about Burkardt are “bullshit”
©IMAGO
Since taking office at the beginning of February, Eintracht Frankfurt coach Albert Riera has given numerous memorable press conferences. Before the game against Hamburger SV at the weekend there was another one, as the 44-year-old Spaniard was asked about the supposed tensions between the team and him. It was specifically about the Jonathan Burkardt case before Riera started with an angry speech.
The mood was tense right from the start of the press conference. “Winning. I don’t talk to journalists about tactics,” replied Riera when asked how he wanted to approach the game on Saturday. He was then asked about the alleged tensions with striker Burkardt, which “Bild” reported on during the week. “Total bullshit,” Riera defended herself. “Do you think I have a communication problem with my players? Do you believe that?” Particularly strange: Shortly after he denied the rumors about Burkardt, Riera explained that the incident had already happened two weeks ago.
What had happened? Burkardt, who came from Mainz 05 for 21 million euros before the season and is SGE’s most accurate attacker with ten goals in 19 Bundesliga games, has shown slightly deteriorated fitness levels since his calf injury in the winter. He himself feels fit, but what was particularly surprising about Riera was that the Spaniard didn’t talk to the player himself about Burkardt’s supposedly too high body fat percentage. Riera had assistant coach Jan Fießer do it. Under Riera he was used nine times and scored two goals. In the 1-1 draw against FC Augsburg last matchday, he was only allowed to play for two minutes.
After the question about Burkardt, Riera launched into a monologue. “We’re not in a pub or a circus here. This is a serious football club. Maybe you think this is a pub and you talk to agents and journalists,” he said. “There is poison around this building, but not in this building. We have a fantastic relationship with the players. Writing something is your job, but I don’t accept lies. I’m not a puppet. I’m a coach. I demand respect. The fans deserve to hear the truth.” The mood around the coach, who came from NK Celje, is apparently at a new negative peak.
In the duel against Hamburger SV at the weekend, the SGE is about qualifying for the Conference League. Frankfurt is currently tied for seventh place with SC Freiburg. Since Riera took office, Eintracht has won four of the eleven games and lost three times – only five Bundesliga teams were better during this period. Nevertheless, the mood in Frankfurt continues to turn negative, and one of the main reasons is likely to be Riera’s communication.
