Frankfurt / Main (dpa / lhe) – Adi Hütter already looked into the future before the meaningless season farewell game of Eintracht Frankfurt against relegated SC Paderborn. “For me it is crucial what we will do in the next few years,” said the coach of the Hessian Bundesliga team in an interview with the “Bild” newspaper (Friday) about a possible contract extension beyond the summer of 2021. “We want to orientate further upwards? Then I am the right person here. I am not a trainer for the comfort zone. I have high goals. “
With a win this Saturday against the bottom of the table from Paderborn, the Frankfurt team would end the Corona season in a single-digit place in the table – either in eighth or ninth. “Everyone is still hungry to end the season with success,” said Hütter on Friday.
Those in charge could live well, even if the renewed entry into the Europa League was clearly missed after two exciting years on the international stage. “We are certainly torn between the missed opportunities to reach seventh place, because on the one hand Eintracht Frankfurt can simply be international,” said sports director Bruno Hübner. “On the other hand, we have the opportunity to calmly prepare for the Bundesliga and to be able to develop the team in a targeted manner without being constantly on the road.”
That would play Hütter in the cards. After all, Eintracht is already playing their 54th competitive game against Paderborn this season. In the 2018/19 season there were already 50 games. “From a coach’s point of view and in order to develop the team further, such a season may be quite good without additional stress,” said the 50-year-old Austrian.
There will be hardly any changes in personnel, but the line-up should be significantly streamlined. “We won’t need a squad as big as this year,” emphasized Hütter in an interview with the “Frankfurter Rundschau” (Friday). “It is important that we have many players under contract in the long term.” Like goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, defender Martin Hinteregger or midfielder Sebastian Rode and Filip Kostic, all of whom form the team’s corset.
The Bundesliga squad currently comprises 33 professionals. The contract expires with five players – among others with veteran Marco Russ, who ends his career like Gelson Fernandes. “He was always a sunny guy with a clear mind,” said Hütter about Russ. Jonathan de Guzmann also has no future with the Hessians, who have already signed under-21 international Ragnar Ache. The striker changes from Sparta Rotterdam to the Main in summer.
After the Paderborn game, the team and coach go on a four-week vacation. Then Eintracht wants to attack again. Hütter even dreams of the premier class, even if this cannot be the Hessian claim. “With a top season, you can slip upstairs – sometimes into the Champions League. Of course that would be an attraction,” he said. “But among the first four – that’s brutally difficult.”
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