Eintracht Frankfurt is entering a season full of highlights. The Hessians are looking forward to the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup and, above all, the Champions League.
Frankfurt / Main (dpa / lhe) - Oliver Glasner can hardly wait. "We're happy that things are finally starting. We're going into the season with great motivation," said the Eintracht Frankfurt coach on Friday before the start of a historic season.
It starts on Monday with the first round game in the DFB Cup at second division club 1. FC Magdeburg, four days later the Bundesliga opening game against record champions Bayern Munich in the home arena and on August 10th the Supercup final against Champions- League winner Real Madrid in Helsinki the next highlight.
The kick-off program has it all - and is the perfect introduction to the season with the first participation in the Champions League as the crowning glory. This gives the Hessians a record income. For the group phase alone, there is an entry bonus of a good 15 million euros, with a further 2.7 million euros awaiting victory. In addition, there are proceeds from the TV and marketing pool of the European Football Union, which are only distributed at the end of the season. The club can use the money well after two years of the corona pandemic.
For the dance at three weddings in the 2022/23 season, the squad was beefed up quantitatively and qualitatively. Eight new professionals around ex-world champion Mario Götze were brought in - and so far no regular player has been given up. The winger Filip Kostic, who is being courted by West Ham United, is also very enthusiastic about the matter. "We have a functioning team, no top performer has left us. The newcomers can gradually integrate and let their qualities flow in. That makes it easier compared to last year," emphasized Glasner.
The Austrian now has a lot more options, especially on the offensive. In addition to Rafael Borré, Lucas Alario and Randal Kolo Muani should also take pictures in the future - if possible in Magdeburg. There shouldn't be a false start like last year, when Eintracht was knocked out of the competition at the third division team Waldhof Mannheim.
But Glasner also knows that his team has gone from being a hunter to a hunted after their triumph in the Europa League. "Every opponent is extra motivated against a European Cup winner. But that's also a sign that we've done something extraordinary. And it can also help us to always find our focus," said the 47-year-old.
That will also be necessary if Eintracht wants to play a better role in the league than in the previous season, which ended in eleventh place. "It's up to us to perform and act in such a way that we leave the pitch as winners. We won't always succeed in that, but we proved last season that we can handle it," said Glasner.
After a strong preparation he sees the team well prepared, even if some automatisms with the newcomers are not yet 100%. "We feel ready," emphasized the Eintracht coach full of confidence. "Last year we felt ready, but this year many processes are clearer for the players."
