The preparation could have gone better, but Eintracht Frankfurt is still hot for the Supercup against Real Madrid. Coach Oliver Glasner can’t completely ignore the Kostic issue, but still wants to bring the next trophy to Hesse.
Actually, this evening, this trip, this game for Eintracht Frankfurt didn’t really deserve background noise. The Hessians, it has to be emphasized several times so that you really believe it, play the European Supercup against Real Madrid on Wednesday (9 p.m. German time) as the reigning Europa League winner. Another final, another chance at a title for the Frankfurt trophy cabinet, which is not empty but also not full to bursting. And just before this game there is another big topic in addition to the game: the departure of Filip Kostic. Just now.
But: Even if the Serb’s move to Juventus Turin is a dominant topic in the Finnish capital, it is not enough to completely overshadow the dimension of the game in the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. “We are all very happy. This is the reward of the Europa League title,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner once again. Of course, the topic of Kostic is there, and it can’t be argued away, but Eintracht still has a big goal.
Glasner: “We will not be afraid”
“We want to go home to Frankfurt with the next trophy,” announced Glasner before the historic evening. Of course, he is also aware that the Hessians have to get rid of one of the really big, if not the biggest, in European club football: Real Madrid. “We want to show what we can do. We won’t be afraid,” emphasized Glasner in advance. “We showed in the Europa League season that there is always a chance – and we want to take it.”
Don’t belittle it, an open visor is the order of the day. “This is the reward for something historic,” said keeper Kevin Trapp before the game. “We can compete with perhaps the best team in Europe. Real has an incredible amount of quality – but so do we.” The title hunger is still present at Eintracht. That’s the good thing about the Supercup: A win, no matter how classy the opponent, is enough for the next title.
System remains the same despite Kostic’s departure
And yet for the Hessians it is also about finding the right mix against Real. Glasner has already announced that Eintracht will seek salvation largely on the defensive and in the transition movement, but also appealed to the courage of their own team: “We have to exploit the points where we might have an advantage. ” Put pinpricks, exploit mistakes, be clever. Glasner is certain that the Royals can also be defeated in this way. “We can pose problems for Real Madrid.”
Which basic formation should be used to do this has been a different, new topic since this Tuesday. Glasner, even if he would certainly like to put the Kostic issue aside, has to compensate for the Serb’s sporting loss. The Austrian announced before the game that there should not be a system change. At least not in the Supercup against Real. “Maybe there will be in the coming weeks or months,” says Glasner.
“You can’t play the Supercup that often”
Same formation, at least one change in personnel – this is how the mission of ‘second European title within a few months’ should be tackled. “You can’t play the Supercup that often,” sporting director Markus Krösche correctly emphasized. “You have to have achieved something extraordinary for that – like we did last year.” With a win against Real Madrid, this story can be continued.
This is how Eintracht could play against Madrid.
