Markus Krösche, the sports director of Eintracht, has announced that he will play for a win in Barcelona this Thursday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Europa League and on RTL).

Can Eintracht win at Camp Nou?

Marc Heinrich

sports editor.

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In combination with the fantastic fans, it can work.

It won't be an away game.

We all know that Frankfurt supporters are particularly creative.

You will have obtained a particularly large number of tickets.

With that they can neutralize the atmosphere in the stadium and that helps their own team.

We've seen that when we've been touring in Europe in recent years.

During the walks before the games, you could always see how many fans, who are quite simply among the best in Europe, have set off again, which was incredibly motivating and gave a real boost.

Especially since the Barcelona of today is no longer the Barcelona of the past.

They have gone through a major upheaval and have to deal with economic problems.

I think there is a realistic chance that Eintracht,

Were you surprised how well Eintracht got out of the 1-1 first leg?

Or was that to be expected after the experience in big games with Donetsk, Marseille, Inter Milan or Benfica?

I always said: Thursday evening is Eintracht time.

When the floodlights come on and the anthem sounds, the crew is ready.

I can still remember how I was once out and about in Munich and a group of football fans came up to me.

The first thing they said to me back then was: "We're all Bayern fans, but our second vote belongs to Eintracht, because what you're doing in Europe is phenomenal." And it's true, the club has had the competition for years internalized like no other.

It is therefore now perceived quite differently in Europe.

And the players know that they're always capable of extraordinary things, and that gives them self-confidence.

You were there in 2018 when Eintracht overtook Bayern in the DFB Cup final: What is the best way to go about being an outsider and tripping up a big favourite?

There's a saying that a team doesn't need a coach for special games because everyone knows what's at stake.

I think that's completely wrong.

It is precisely for moments like this that you need a super trainer.

I can well remember how we won 1-0 away at Schalke in the semi-finals in spring 2018, and our coach Niko Kovac then immediately said: "I know exactly how to play against Bayern!" May in Berlin started with a 4-3-3 system, which no one from Bayern had on the slip.

It's always good to confuse your opponent with a tactical surprise.

A coach is also required to push the team.

At the same time he has to be careful that nobody overdoes it.

We worked a lot with films back then,

in which highlights of previous Eintracht games appeared.

Niko Kovac focused the players on the point and motivated them perfectly.

And I firmly assume that Oliver Glasner is now acting in the same way.

What does Eintracht have to do differently than in the first leg, what can they build on?

Barça was impressed how Eintracht accepted the challenge.

They got off to a hard start and Kevin Trapp only had to clear Ferran Torres from a great long-range shot shortly after kick-off.

Perhaps you thought it would be a sure-fire success in Frankfurt right from the start.

But that was a mistake.

You've bought the guts.

Eintracht played forward and set pinpricks.

That's exactly how she has to tackle it now away from home.

A lot also depends on the back three with Martin Hinteregger: It will certainly be the focus.

But this constellation suits Martin particularly well.

We just have to remember the games against Chelsea, how he handled everything against Olivier Giroud.

He is predestined for such games, and he carries the others away with his dedication.

And of course it will depend

Your tip for Thursday evening?

I hope that Eintracht will continue.

Even if it gets difficult.