Bundesliga: Continuity as a trump card: overtakes Frankfurt ex-master Bayer?

Kasper Hjulmand may not hope for Frankfurt’s guest gifts in his Bundesliga debt as a coach of Bayer Leverkusen. With Eintracht, after the international break on Friday evening (8:30 p.m./Sky), the team comes to the BayArena, which has given a perfect start to the season and is the first Bayern hunter.

“We got out of the starting blocks really well. I’m not worried that there can be a kink. The boys make a great impression. We feel well prepared and be in the mood for everything that comes,” said Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller with confidence.

Will Frankfurt be the new Leverkusen?

No wonder, the Hesse is currently running like clockwork. “I think you saw in the first games that the automatisms are right and the players know what to do,” said Eintracht sports director Markus Krösche at the beginning of the week.

Unlike the still winless runner-up Leverkusen, the previous year’s third largely kept his team together and convinced with power football in the successes against Bremen and Hoffenheim. With defender Tuta, striker Hugo Ekitiké and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, you lost three top performers who could be replaced immediately by Jonathan Burkardt, Ritsu Doan and Michael Zetterer.

“We found a good mix of the age structure, want to be successful and achieve our sporting goals,” said Krösche. They are quickly summarized: play in the Bundesliga above, go far in the DFB Cup and keep up in the Champions League.

Bayer in self -discovery phase

These are usually also the demands of Bayer, but the Werkelf is based on the loss of numerous top performers such as Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah or Jeremie Frimpong as well as the early expulsion of Erik ten HAG brought in the middle of the summer. A total of 20 players went, but 14 new ones came.

Hjulmand, who is obliged at the beginning of the week, is intended to form a functioning unit. “With our team, he will now work out a clear and dominant style of play,” sports director Simon Rolfes formulated the primary goal.

Eintracht is already maintaining it, which is why the Hesse drive to Leverkusen with a wide chest. “Everyone sprays with joy and feel like standing together on the pitch,” said Toppmöller about the mood in the team.

Eintracht wants to end horror series in Leverkusen

If the Hesse wants to contest the role of the sporty crown prince behind the Bayern Munich industry leader, the end of a horror series would be a good start. After all, the last victory of Eintracht in Leverkusen was almost twelve years ago.

In December 2013, the Frankfurters won 1-0. A year later there was another draw, after that only partially hearty bankruptcy. Before the 81st Bundesliga duel of both teams, Toppmöller prefers to hide the statistics. “We shouldn’t address this and drive to Leverkusen with great optimism,” he said.

Of course, Bayer continues to have a top team with high quality. “But the situation is special because it was a big change from a very successful team. The change of coach after only two games doesn’t make it easier,” said Toppmöller about the opponent and stated: “In the end it remains a surprise bag.”

Frankfurt hit with Toppmöller

Eintracht had carried out a similarly serious upheaval two years ago when they had a number of top performers pull and ended the way together with successful coach Oliver Glasner. “It was important for us to make this hard cut. It was the point where we had the feeling of making a change on the peak,” said Krösche in retrospect.

With Toppmöller, a coach was hired that gives the players aid in all respects. “We said we needed a trainer who has the courage to let young players play and develop. He fully fulfilled that. He does a great job,” praised Krösche. “He has a good connection to the boys who trust him and a human leadership in terms of the entire team.”

The same is hoped for in Leverkusen from Hjulmand. “It is important to have a good everyday life – a good everyday training, good cooperation, a good leadership of the group. These are characteristics that Kasper brings,” said Rolfes about the new hope.