After two defeats in a row, Eintracht Frankfurt wants to score again against Leverkusen. However, a new failure forces coach Oliver Glasner to improvise.
Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - Despite the personnel situation, which has been dramatically aggravated by the absence of defense chief Makoto Hasebe, Eintracht Frankfurt is hoping for a win in the Bundesliga duel against Bayer Leverkusen this Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky). "After the two defeats, we want to get back on the road to victory," said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner on Friday.
The injury to Hasebe, who tore the inner ligament in his knee in the Champions League game at Tottenham Hotspur and will be out for several weeks, increases the concerns of the Hessians, especially on the defensive. Because Aurélio Buta (knee surgery), Luca Pellegrini (shoulder), Ansgar Knauff (fascial injury) are also not available. In addition, Almamy Touré and Jérôme Onguéné are back in training, but not yet an option against Leverkusen.
"We've been improvising on the defensive for weeks. It's our job to find solutions," said Glasner and demanded: "It's important that we're not dependent on a 38-year-old Makoto Hasebe Taking responsibility and accepting it, that's what I expect from my players."
His protégés have to accept the current situation and also perform well in unfamiliar positions - after all, he "can't make a left foot out of a right foot." It is important for everyone to put their own ego a little further back and move closer together.
The coach has a good impression of the available players. "I would have expected the boys to be a bit more tired today, 36 hours after London. But their tank is full - physically and mentally. We have a good feeling," reported Glasner. The 49-year-old is therefore confident that after the 2: 3 in the premier class at Tottenham and the 0: 3 at Bundesliga bottom VfL Bochum the small negative trend can be stopped.
With 14 points, Eintracht is currently eighth in the table - well ahead of Leverkusen. The Werkself, who suffered a 3-0 home defeat against FC Porto last Wednesday, are currently 15th in the table with just eight points.
Nevertheless, Glasner does not want to underestimate Bayer. "This is a top squad that has underperformed so far this season," he warned. Before the season, he named Leverkusen with Leipzig as Bayern's biggest competitor because they were not only able to keep their squad together, but also strengthen it. "They have one of the fastest paces in the league," Glasner said of the rival. "We need a good structure in the game, otherwise they will give us big problems with their pace."
