Berlin (AP) – No drumming, no excuses. Oliver Glasner took responsibility for this defeat.
His professionals were physically and mentally unable to perform at their best, the coach said after Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2-0 defeat at 1. FC Union Berlin: “I’m 100 percent responsible for that.”
Three days after the intoxicating Catalan night with the victory at FC Barcelona and the entry into the semi-finals of the Europa League, the point sadness continued for the Hessians in the second half of the Bundesliga. Twelve points from 13 games, only tenth place in the championship, besieger Union in sixth place is now a whopping eight points ahead. “I don’t know if the train has left, we’ll see,” commented Glasner on the prospects of qualifying again for international competition via the league.
Eintracht fans celebrate anyway
The fans also celebrated their team in the Alte Försterei: “European Cup, European Cup.” For minutes, the exhausted and disappointed players stood in front of the supporters who had traveled with them and applauded. Construction work after a game in which there was nothing to be seen of a football festival like the Camp Nou. “The players squeezed out everything that was still in there, but the lemon was empty today,” said Glasner.
Less than 72 hours after the 3-2 win against the Catalans, five new field players didn’t bring fresh impetus. “The rotation must not be an excuse. We saw in Barcelona that everyone who is on the bench is also ready,” emphasized Christopher Lenz. Out of necessity, Glasner also had to make a change in goal, Kevin Trapp is injured. The question: How long will the 31-year-old be out? Trapp suffered a sprained ligament in his wrist during the triumph in Barcelona, as only became known on Sunday.
Substitute Jens Grahl had imagined his return to goal in the Bundesliga differently after six years. “We had made it our goal to do whatever we could,” he said. But there wasn’t much going on so soon after the exhausting mood intensive course on the sunny Costa Brava.
Union on course for Europe
“It’s incredibly difficult to be ready again three days later,” said Union coach Urs Fischer, who is preparing with his team to explore the Europa League next season after this season’s Conference League.
Or even the Champions League? “I don’t really care,” said Fischer: “We said we’d try to get up there again. We’re still within striking distance.” Also to the Champions League ranks. It goes without saying that these prospects are once again exhilarating for the Leipzig Union week with the DFB Cup semifinals on Wednesday and the duel between the opposing rivals on Saturday at RB.
Eintracht coach Glasner, on the other hand, was faced with the question of being suspended for the remaining four league games. “There is no such thing as giving away a game for me and us,” emphasized the 47-year-old Austrian and gave his professionals a mini-break. “Now we won’t concentrate at all for two days. That’s also important to have the strength again for the final sprint.”