Frankfurt / Main (dpa) – Oliver Glasner came quite casually in a white T-shirt to his official presentation at Eintracht Frankfurt. For almost an hour, the new coach of Hessen chatted relaxed and tidy about the upcoming season in the Bundesliga, in which Glasner wants to build on his last successful work at VfL Wolfsburg with the Europa League starter.
“I feel like doing something here and playing football successfully,” emphasized the 46-year-old Austrian and looked ahead with enthusiasm at the start of training on Thursday: “I’m happy that it finally starts. Now is the time pure football again. “
The former professional did not (yet) want to commit to specific sporting goals, but he does bring clear ideas to the Main. “It will be very important: how do we perform, how do we play. We want to make the players better and give them something that will benefit them in their careers,” said Glasner. “It also helps us grow as a team. Then you can lose sometimes.”
So that this does not happen too often in the 2021/22 season, Glasner wants to continue the successful work of his predecessor Adi Hütter, who has switched to Borussia Mönchengladbach, and do some things even better than his compatriot, with whom he recently had a “nice chat” while on vacation “had met. “We want to keep the creativity and unpredictability, but bring in more balance in the defensive protection and keep the store closed more often,” he announced the route.
As in the previous season with the Wolfsburg, who with 37 goals conceded the second best defense in the league and played 14 games to zero. Compactness and fighting strength represent a great asset for the family man. Sports director Markus Krösche is therefore optimistic that Eintracht is ready for the next step. “Oliver Glasner is someone who suits us very well. He can develop players, lets play offensive football. His teams act bravely. That’s what we need in Frankfurt,” said Krösche about the coach.
Glasner does not expect a major change in personnel at the previous year’s fifth. “The squad looks very good. We have a good mix of experienced and young, hungry players. We won’t change too much and hardly be active in the transfer market,” he said. “The team played at a high level over a long period of time. Many players are of the best footballing age.”
Like the fans, Glasner also hopes that top performers like Filip Kostic or André Silva can be retained. “We are fighting for these players who are exceptional and important,” he said. His hope: “You know that you are in very good hands with an ambitious club and here.” But nothing can be ruled out until the end of the transfer period at the beginning of September.
At the moment, however, his focus is on the start of the pre-season, which will miss all EM drivers. You are either on vacation or – like the Swiss Steven Zuber – still in the tournament. Nonetheless, Glasner doesn’t want to waste any time: “We are now getting started with high intensity. I am looking forward to getting to know the players little by little.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210629-99-186945 / 4
– .
