The damper wasn't long in coming.
At the end of the second week of their fresh collaboration, Oliver Glasner and his team suffered a first defeat.
The 1: 3 in the test match against SV Wehen Wiesbaden is nothing more (but also nothing less) than a small indication that the next big upheaval that Eintracht has to accomplish will involve a lot of work.
The commitment with which the Austrian coach takes on the task differs noticeably from the last few weeks under the direction of his compatriot Adi Hütter, when in spring, under the pressure of general expectations and the selfish decision of the hitherto undisputed coach , darkened the mood around the club - and everyone in May was happy that it was over in this constellation.
Who has to be borrowed?
Glasner's actions are initially aimed at creating a pleasant working atmosphere: He talks a lot to everyone, while Hütter recently had problems getting his words through; and he puts together an exercise program that doesn't neglect fun. The 46-year-old cannot do much more at the moment, as some actors who are supposed to play a major role in his concept are not available to him due to the aftermath of the EM.
What is generally noticeable these days, as no one can predict how the transfer market will develop in the second Corona summer, is the courage and trust in the offspring with which Eintracht is proceeding in its squad formation. The handwriting of the chief scout Ben Manga, who has been promoted to director, is clearly recognizable, not least during the Lindström transfer. Manga discovered Vallejo, Haller, Jovic or N'Dicka for Eintracht, and now he can implement his ideas more freely without having to fear the contradiction of Hütter (who has a weakness for experienced professionals).
Blanco, Juliá, Garcia and Akman - their obligations in particular are a bet on the future that Eintracht concluded. It offers the youngsters from Spain and Turkey, all of whom could have moved to a better-heeled address in the Premier League today, the chance to confirm their talent that has flashed up in the youth field under professional conditions. The quartet should grow with and with Eintracht, also with the intention of continuing the path of the “upscale training association” - and then letting them move on if lucrative offers are available.
The fact that Eintracht voluntarily made the mistake of de-registering their U23 seven years ago makes things more difficult for Glasner and Manga. Neither of the two can assume that someone like Akman, with all the temperament with which he was there against labor on Saturday, immediately belongs to the circle of first division candidates. It may have to be loaned out in order to find a field of activity elsewhere, similar to Tuta, Kamada or Joveljic, which is no longer available in the necessary form in Frankfurt.
However, temporarily sending teenagers on also means losing influence in a very important and volatile phase of one's career. The club is currently positioning itself in a variety of ways, installing professionals for internationalization and wanting to be a pioneer in a vaccination campaign to accelerate the return of spectators. In contrast, a topic like the reintroduction and establishment of a second team seems like a small problem. But that is a mistake. In the intensifying competition between the clubs for the best concepts and brains, the longer it is left untreated, the bigger it is.