Sebastian Rode, the number one in the Frankfurt hierarchy, could not be the captain in the home game against Bayern Munich because he was out with an injury.

Makoto Hasebe was also out of the question this time as the first deputy for the role of the leading player.

The Japanese was only a substitute in the 90 minutes of the game.

George Daniels

Editor in the sports department

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And Martin Hinteregger, the third candidate?

Although the defense chief played from the start, he currently refuses this task.

The reason given by his coach after the 1-0 defeat.

"Martin wants to concentrate on his performance," said Oliver Glasner, who can understand the decision of his defender, who is struggling with his form this season.

The Austrian national player is slowly stabilizing again.

In difficult times, however, Hinteregger sees the captaincy as a burden.

The Frankfurters were able to muster one captain in the duel with the champions and Bundesliga leaders: Kevin Trapp.

The international goalkeeper, who had already led the Frankfurt team on the pitch before moving to Paris in 2015, as the undisputed number one between the posts did not have to be asked twice.

The 31-year-old, who is a figurehead at the club and who likes to lead the way and take responsibility, can fully identify with this task.

It suits his personality.

Nevertheless, Glasner's choice before this season fell on Rode - on the grounds that the football coach at this management level prefers a field player.

In November, after the Europa League game at Olympiakos Piraeus, Glasner said that Trapp was an "important leader" even without a prominent position.

Trapp doesn't complain

After the Bayern game, the coach summed up Trapp's importance as follows: "Kevin has always been a captain in the dressing room." According to Glasner, the division of captain's tasks "internally" is not an issue anyway.

Everyone who wants it and who can, by virtue of their personality, contributes accordingly to the common good, the trainer said.

The official designation for a managerial task apparently takes a back seat to it.

Nevertheless, Trapp would have liked to have become a captain as a sign of recognition and appreciation.

He could have felt his reputation confirmed.

The Saarland native did not complain that others were given preference.

But he will not have been happy to accept Glasner's choice of personnel without it having anything to do with Sebastian Rode as a person.

The midfielder also enjoys a high reputation in the team.

A certain misunderstanding about his non-appointment will have played a part in Trapp.

He is the face of Eintracht and a smart representative of the club.

He finds the right tone and is confident in dealing with sensitive issues.

Trapp knows what he's saying and doesn't have to regret what he said afterwards.

And although he is a lone fighter as a goalkeeper, he always has the big picture in mind.

He cares and takes an interest in things.

Calling him the secret captain is apt.

One of his most distinctive characteristics is his great ambition.

Meticulously working on himself, Trapp subordinates everything to football and success.

He sets an example and even has to be slowed down in his striving for success.

After the goalkeeper was "not one hundred percent satisfied" with his performance in the first games of the season, he put in an outstanding performance in Eintracht's 2-1 win in Munich at the beginning of October.

Trapp surpassed himself with his first win of the season.

His splendid appearance was also his personal turning point.

For months, the goalkeeper has mostly come up with top performances.

In the 0:1 against Munich he prevented further goals.

The weak start of the second half of the season with only four points from seven games is nagging at him.

“We don't have enough points for our own claim.

We have to pack a lot more," he demands.

The goalkeeper, who has since been downgraded to number four in the national team, is hoping for an invitation from national coach Hansi Flick for the international matches against Israel and the Netherlands at the end of March.

This Saturday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky) in the Bundesliga away game against Hertha, Trapp could be captain again.

He would be happy to take on this task.