Sure, he could tell a lot, but he didn’t want to. On the strengths, the players, in general opponent FC Barcelona addressed on Wednesday at the press conference before the game, Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner chose a different approach. An approach that will also apply to Thursday’s game (from 9 p.m. in the hr-iNFO audio stream) should apply. “The most important thing will be that we don’t adjust everything to Barcelona. We have to put our strengths on the pitch,” emphasized the Frankfurt coach. So his plan: a lot of harmony, little Barca and a cool head.
The preparation for the game started on Tuesday, Kevin Trapp and Co. were trained for the well-known opponent earlier than in the Bundesliga. After all, you don’t see the Catalans in the Bundesliga week after week. And yet the opponent analysis was more about how the Hessians could hurt the big FC Barcelona – and not about how to get behind and avoid the big catastrophe.
“We always look for opportunities for ourselves”
“With the necessary efficiency, we can also score goals,” gave Glasner the direction. He will not sign a draw before the game. The Austrian emphatically emphasized that Eintracht was playing to win. In every game, even against Barcelona. “We’re always looking for opportunities for ourselves.” Captain Sebastian Rode saw it the same way: “I’m sure there will be one or two chances. We’ll have to take advantage of them.”
Of course, this also harbors the risk of a little cockiness. The Hessians expect a gigantic atmosphere in the city forest, which can carry the Eintracht professionals, but may also lead to the Frankfurters wanting too much too quickly. “The horses shouldn’t bolt either. You have to let the euphoria run, but it mustn’t get wild. We have to implement our plan. That will be the challenge,” stressed Glasner.
The hope for “a great evening”
Only the team should therefore keep a cool head, the rest can be a madhouse on Thursday evening. “We enjoy everything around it. The city and the fans deserve this game,” explained Glasner. And Rode added: “It will also be one of the highlights of my career. It will probably be a great evening again.”
In the best-case scenario, it won’t stay that way. If Glasner’s plan works, there will be another Europa League home game this season. After all, Barcelona shouldn’t be the end of the line. “We hope it doesn’t end in the quarter-finals,” said the Eintracht coach. Barcelona out, Barcelona out. On Thursday it should be about the Hessians anyway – and not about the Catalans.
This is how Eintracht Frankfurt could play against FC Barcelona:
Source: HR