Sports director Hardung at TM
© Imago
Five points ahead of the five -placed Mainz: Eintracht Frankfurt is on the best way to qualify for the Champions League five games before the end of the season. “Our way has always convinced us,” says sports director Timmo Hardung in an interview Transfermarkt.us. The prospect that it could work for the first time in the club’s history with the direct qualification over the league, “shows how difficult it is,” says the 35-year-old, who has been working for Hesse since 2021 after he had followed Markus Krösche from RB Leipzig. Hardung gave information about Frankfurt’s way to the TOP-4, the development of stars such as Omar Marmoush and the balancing act between the sale and maintenance of top performers.
“We are in a good position,” emphasizes Hardung. “We have worked very hard up to this point and do not want to be dissuaded from our way. We all know how difficult it can be. Everything we have shown in the current season will not be rewarded if we leave in the last games.” The SBU experienced its premiere in the Champions League in the 2022/23 season thanks to the sensational profit of the Europa League. The SSC Naples end station was in the round class in the round of 16.
If Eintracht finished 4th place, that would be a great success for the club. “Especially since there are some clubs in the Bundesliga who have a much better financial framework,” says Hardung. “These teams also have great individual players, and they are hunting for us because they want this space, maybe even have to reach. You also have to consider that football has changed a little in the past few weeks of a season. It becomes more intense.”
In the squad value comparison, the Frankfurters take 6th place after the recent Bundesliga update with 323.05 million euros. Only Mainz and Gladbach perform even better-measured by their team value. Again and again in the recent past, some players started at Eintracht and were then given for a high sum. So last happened with Marmoush, who moved to the Premier League for 75 million euros in January. After the Egyptian, who was hired free of charge from Wolfsburg in 2023, had only needed one and a half years in order to raise its market value from 6 million to 60 million euros and be targeted by Manchester City. “You were ready to invest a considerable amount of money. You didn’t see any other player with these qualities on the market,” said Hardung about Skyblues’s advance.
Inexpensive or even a transfer free of charge and sell expensive, this does not work without loss of sporting quality. How do you manage to get better despite this strategy? “This is not only difficult, but actually impossible,” says Hardung. “It would require someone to pay us a high transfer fee, even though we already have a better player on the market. It just doesn’t work that way.” So new jewels have to be found and sanded.
Eintracht Frankfurt needs players “not quite at a top level”
“Our task is to develop new players as soon as possible so that they become their own best version,” explains Hardung. “It’s about talent. Our job is to find a player who has talent but may not be quite at the top level yet.” So is it about finding who has a higher potential than the one you sell? Hardung agrees. “Often they are players who have not yet been able to show their highest level.” See Marmoush, who only sprayed the shine with the SBU, which you couldn’t see in Wolfsburg before, and who only went to Man City at almost 26. “Football is also a bit of luck. Everyone who claims something else lies. Of course, you can minimize the need for happiness by working hard,” says Hardung.
It is also due to the players to do the lion’s share of the work.
In order to be lucky with a professional like the starting attacker, such a player with potential must first be recognized. “We work closely with the players to see how much more potential they can get into and what level they can achieve. Often it is not the basic things that have to be changed, but little things. It is also due to the players to do the lion’s share of work. We can support with our experts and trainers, but the player has to go and get involved,” explains hardening.
A departure like Marmoush that is not easy to compensate for. “The whole team has to do that. An important factor is that the next player is ready and waiting,” says Hardung. The next generation around Hugo Ekitiké (22), Hugo Larsson (20) and Can Uzun (19) has long been ready. New top -class departures are quite possible in summer. “You always have to be prepared,” says Hardung. “This is the daily business of squad planning. It is part of my job to have a medium and long-term plan. After all, we invest considerable remedies in players who may not be in the spotlight. It is important to sign players with a view to the future.”
Frankfurt loan Aaronson convinced: “Very satisfied with him”
Paxten has a perspective of Aaronson. The 21-year-old American was signed by Philadelphia for 4 million euros in early 2023. The midfielder spent the second half of 2023/24 at Vitesse Arnheim, since the summer he has known – also on a loan – at FC Utrecht. Seven hits and five templates in 33 games are available for Aaronson. “Together we decided to bring him to a higher level in Utrecht this season,” reports Hardung. “Paxten had to show that he wanted to go the way of success by scoring goals and assists. His development is very positive. Utrecht is also very satisfied with him, and we are very happy to have him back with us.”
Aaronson and Eintracht waves the Champions League in 2025/26, this “would make a big difference”. Because: “If you look at the Dortmunders who have been there for many years, they are financially ahead of us for light years.” Will such a big gap ever be closed? Hardung explains: “Ultimately, you have to make more correct than wrong decisions. If you have more money, it is easier to make up for bad decisions. Our goal is to remain greedy and modest at the same time. That will be crucial.” Since the 2020/21 season, no Bundesliga club has had a higher positive transfer result than Eintracht – 124 million euros mean by far the largest plus, followed by Schalke (84 million), Stuttgart (73 million), Mainz (66 million), Freiburg (65 million) and Hertha (64 million).
Interview: Manuel Veth / German translation: Philipp Marquardt