On the day before the classic against Bayern, Oliver Glasner verbally bowed to his pros.

"The players did a great job," said the Eintracht coach in an unusually long press briefing ahead of a Bundesliga game.

Glasner also used the end of the first half of the season to point out the best semi-series result since the three-point rule was introduced.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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31 points mean fourth place for Frankfurt.

"Brutally disappointing that it didn't turn 40," said Glasner with a wink.

He wished for more respect and appreciation for the work of his team.

"We're in the last 16 of the Champions League.

For some, this is still not enough.

That annoys me."

A good six months ago, Glasner's anger was particularly great when his team was "pulled through the arena by the nose ring" by Bayern, as he said on Friday at the professional camp.

Eintracht was already 0:5 behind at halftime, in the end it was 1:6.

The disaster from back then was not an issue when looking at the second leg this Saturday (6.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky).

There were other things to talk about.

For example, that Kevin Trapp is expected to be between the posts again.

The goalkeeper has reported back healthy apart from a slight cough.

"Kevin is fit and ready again," said Glasner.

"And when he says he's ready, then he'll play." Clear statement.

Defense formation still questionable

Glasner did not want to commit to filling the three positions before Trapp.

With his overview and game intelligence, Makoto Hasebe could be the right man for the duel against Bayern.

Alone: ​​The Japanese has not trained recently and was also slightly injured with the flu.

So there is much to suggest that Hvroje Smolcic can prove himself again, flanked on the outposts by Evan Ndicka and Tuta.

The fact that Sebastian Rode, the captain, is finally there from the start will not happen in Munich either.

Glasner's explanation for Rode's joker role was perfectly plausible.

Daichi Kamada, who was weak in Freiburg, is set after the tactical move back to sixth position, as is Djibril Sow.

The Swiss has already received four yellow cards, which is why Rode remains on the bench to be substituted on if the worst comes to the worst.

Good for Glasner and Eintracht: As soon as Rode is on the ball, the game gains order and contours.

Rode has a lot of class with which he immediately becomes a game-determining factor.

Lenz plays with a splinted finger

Unlike the last 1-1 draw in Freiburg, Eintracht also wants to concentrate on “not losing balls too easily up front” at the summit in Munich, as coach Glasner put it.

"We have to get our feet back on the ground." Christopher Lenz got a splint.

It should help him to be able to pursue his playful work in Munich despite his middle finger being dislocated in Freiburg.

The route is clearly defined: "Of course, Bayern are ahead of us and have become champions in the last ten years," said Glasner.

"But you can always win in a game." Just like last season, when Eintracht won 2-1 on October 3, 2021.

It was Bayern's first win in 20 years.

Martin Hinteregger and Filip Kostic, both no longer active in Frankfurt, scored the goals.

The best man of the game was someone who still wears the Eintracht dress: Kevin Trapp.

When Trapp is in the sold-out arena in Fröttmaning in the Frankfurter Tor this Saturday, he will see Yann Sommer on the opposite side.

From Gladbach to Bayern: Once again, a change was made in no time.

If Bayern want someone, they usually get him.

Also Randal Kolo Muani?

Maybe from summer on.

Definitely not in this wintry transfer window.

"Kolo is in good hands with us," said Glasner, knowing full well that Eintracht also knows the rules of the industry and will let the stormy Frenchman go with an attractive transfer fee.

But it's not that far yet, and so all eyes are on the competition between Kolo Muani and Jamal Musiala.

Two attackers of the highest caliber who are hugely important to their respective teams.

As a preparer and executor, the two are great and have the best values.

In order to trip up Bayern, Glasner wants his team to have a mix of "energy, courage and conviction".

Either way: "Everything has to fit," said the Austrian.

From the very back to the very front.