The best, most reliable and respected Eintracht professional has a problem.

He does not play.

Makoto Hasebe is sitting on the bench.

Sometimes coach Oliver Glasner gives him a few minutes of action.

Most of the time, however, the 37-year-old Japanese looks on from the touchline.

This was the case in Bielefeld (1: 1), against Stuttgart (1: 1) and last Sunday when he returned to his former job in Wolfsburg (1: 1).

Only at the start of the season in Dortmund (2: 5), when Glasner played with a back three in defense, the long-time captain of the Japanese national team was the starting player for 69 minutes.

Ralf Weitbrecht

Sports editor.

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A week later, in the goalless draw against Augsburg, ten more minutes were added as a late substitute. That's it Since then, the game-intelligent model professional who has been involved in all training units this summer without injury has been watching. What may be surprising at first glance: Glasner is full of praise for Hasebe, as he said to get in the mood for the important third home game of the season against 1. FC Köln this Saturday (3:30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky) . “Makoto is a very important player for the whole club. What Makoto says has a hand and foot. When he talks, I hang on his every word. "

Hasebe last told a lot two weeks ago in a major interview in the FAZ.

Of course, Eintracht coach Glasner also read it and really appreciated it.

"I congratulated him for his statements," said the Austrian football teacher.

Glasner values ​​Hasebe as "a fantastic character, for whom I have a lot of respect, how professional he is, how he deals with the situation and how he guides the boys in training".

Ambassador for unity

It is no secret that the athlete and ascetic from the Far East is toying with a career as a coach after the end of his great career. He has long been the ambassador he is to become for the interests of unity. Hasebe stands for the good virtues of an exemplary professional footballer. Others had long since rebelled and expressed their displeasure with their role as a spectator - Hasebe not. He takes it sporty and professional.

It is not foreseeable for the time being that his situation in everyday Bundesliga life will change quickly. After the low blow in Dortmund, Glasner said goodbye to the three-man chain and has since relied on four defenders. Before this quartet, the Swiss Djibril Sow and the recently signed future Croatian national player Kristijan Jakic, two scavengers and drivers, stuck to the so-called sixth position. Good for the duo, bad for Hasebe, for whom there is currently neither there nor back in the defense center. Hasebe - a victim of the system change.

His advice, not only on the bench, but also on the pitch, because that's where things are far from going as the Glasner and his helpers imagine. "Especially during offensive actions I have the feeling that the players are a little tense and not entirely free," said the Eintracht coach before the duel with 1. FC Köln and its coach Steffen Baumgart. “Sometimes they make the wrong decisions because they are not bursting with confidence. I told them not to tense up. That is our approach. "

Glasner has respect for the FC and speaks of a "difficult task". His team is still waiting for their first win in a competitive game. Neither in the DFB-Pokal, where the abrupt end deservedly occurred in the first round with the Mannheim Waldhof boys, nor in everyday league (four draws, one defeat) it has worked so far. And in the Europa League, in which it was at least possible to equalize the interim 0: 1 against Fenerbahce Istanbul, not either.

So now Cologne, the sixth attempt in the core business of the Bundesliga. Against a team where Glasner sees parallels to his previous station in Paderborn because of the coach Baumgart. “Steffen is doing a great job in Cologne. In Paderborn, too, the team has always played very aggressive and aggressive football and fought back after setbacks. It will be an exchange of blows. "

In order to finally win, unity needs goals.

His strikers could and should shoot.

Although coach Glasner has not yet decided which variant should be used.

With a soloist?

With a dual leadership?

Glasner will not be able to do without Rafael Borré, most recently nominated in Wolfsburg at the unfamiliar right-wing outpost, nor Sam Lammers.

The Dutchman Lammers has already shown and scored his goal danger, Borré has not yet.

Cologne could bring about the turning point.