Before the opener against Schalke (Saturday, 15:30), Eintracht has not only talked about the Bundesliga match, but also about the future.
Eintracht Frankfurt has had an incredibly successful year. In the summer, they triumphed in the Europa League. In the Champions League, they are in the last 16, where SSC Napoli awaits the Frankfurt team.
And in the Bundesliga, coach Oliver Glasner’s team spent the winter in fourth place. At the press conference before the rest of the season kicks off on Saturday (3:30 pm) against FC Schalke, board spokesman Axel Hellmann and sporting director Markus Krösche gave an insight into Eintracht’s plans, which go far beyond the Schalke game.
Hellmann emphasised: “We have ticked off 2022. In the new year, all the cards will be reshuffled. We won’t get anything more for what was. But only for what is to come. The stakes are higher now.
That’s why the club is stepping on the gas, for example by expanding the stadium to a capacity of almost 60,000 spectators. Hellmann: “The expansion of the stadium is the biggest achievement for this year. The exact time of commissioning at maximum capacity cannot yet be estimated, but we can continue to ensure an average of 48,000, 49,000 spectators.”
They will also be there on Saturday against Schalke, Krösche expects a game of patience: “A big issue with us remains finding solutions against deeper opponents. That will already be the case on Saturday. Then we’ll see how far we are in this respect. The decisive thing is to always be at 100 per cent against every opponent.”
Those in charge have also written 100 per cent on their banner, and it is also important to develop good ideas, as Hellmann reports: “Our task must be to remain competitive with what we have – the power of the base and clever business models. This requires courage and decisiveness.”
Krösche added: “We want to develop further as a club and team. This also includes women’s and youth football. In 2023, we want to follow a similar path as in 2022, continue to make progress and keep the focus high. The perception of the SBU has changed nationally and internationally. We have to keep checking ourselves and improving details. “
