The 2023/24 season is already in the past. While the players are on holiday or with their national teams, the Eintracht offices are still a hive of activity. The past months have been processed and analysed, and conclusions drawn. The aim: improvements from the summer and a strong 2024/25 campaign.
Markus, with a bit of distance and a few days in Japan away from the daily grind, what’s your summary of the past season?
“We’re very pleased with our final position in the Bundesliga. The fact that the coaching team have managed to bring a lot of young players into the squad, like Nacho Ferri, Elias Baum and Nnamdi Collins, or turn top talents such as Willian Pacho and Hugo Larsson into established first-team players, is also very positive. We’re still disappointed about our showing in the cup competitions. We expect more punch, more purposefulness and better results there. Our style of play in the Bundesliga hasn’t always been right either. Particularly in the second half of the season, it wasn’t how we imagine our football.”
How did the analysis meetings go over the last few days and weeks?
“We have to realise that 47 points probably won’t be enough for sixth place next season and we need to perform better. That's why everyone should scrutinise themselves in light of the past year. In my conversation with the media after the match against Leipzig, I said that it was not the time to talk about personnel. For me, it was first of all important to talk about content and to feel that we are ready to tackle the new season together in such a way that we can see a positive development in the way we play football.”
It was important after the Leipzig match that we all thought about how we want to tackle next season.
Board member for sport Markus Krösche
The role of the coaching staff, above all of Dino Toppmöller, has been discussed in recent weeks. What was the outcome of the analysis with him?
“It was important after the Leipzig match that we all thought about how we want to tackle next season. Dino has used the time and been very reflective and clear. Of course, he was also critical of himself, with a strong focus and ideas for the new season. In my view, that’s crucially important. He’s made a very good impression and demonstrated in a convincing way that he has the power to drive forward a positive development in the new season. It’s important we have the same view on things and all go into the new campaign with the same visions and ambitions. Our conversation showed this to be the case. We’ll now look together in the coming weeks at the extent to which personnel and structural adjustments in the team are sensible and necessary. From now on, the focus is on the new season.”
On Saturday evening, we’ll also find out which European competition Eintracht Frankfurt will be playing in next season, with the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid taking place in London. How will you follow the game?
“I’ll be there in the stadium, obviously rooting for Borussia Dortmund.”
