Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt gets going - Goal: Attractive soccer
Cheerful and full of eagerness - with great optimism, Dino Toppmöller, trainer of Eintracht Frankfurt, looks forward to the new season. "We're simply happy that it's starting now," the coach of the Bundesliga team said after the first training session.
Concrete goals, Toppmöller still didn't want to declare. That's too early, he emphasized. But after the weak second round of the previous season and the subsequent speculation about a separation, it's clear: Toppmöller has to deliver - and quickly.
The European Championship in Germany was of course followed by Toppmöller himself - and even if there's no goal in sight, he at least has a certain claim to himself and his team. "We want to play a bit more attractively than England and France," he said with a smile, alluding to the rather lackluster performances of the two national teams, which were considered top favorites before the tournament.
Toppmöller on Uzun: "very, very great potential"
While new signing Can Uzun was vacationing as a European Championship participant Robin Koch and Copa America participant Willian Pacho from Ecuador, one of the biggest hopefuls was present on the training ground and introduced himself to 1,000 Eintracht fans: Newcomer Can Uzun. The top talent came from the second-tier club 1. FC Nürnberg in the summer. The 18-year-old offensive player has "very, very great potential," Toppmöller said.
At least publicly, the expectations for Uzun are high. "I've only seen him here for a day in training, so it's not fair to speak of expectations for him in public yet. We want him to arrive first," Toppmöller made clear.
Failed big transfer
While the Uzun transfer worked out, the acquisition of national player Pascal Groß from the Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion failed. "We would have liked to have him here because of his experience and his personality, but that's over now. We don't need to talk about it anymore," Toppmöller said.
Gross is reportedly on the verge of a move to Borussia Dortmund. For Eintracht, the question now is how to fill the gap in the central midfield position instead. "We'll think about it: What does the market offer us? What do we have internally as possibilities? And then we'll make a good decision," Toppmöller said. The club still has several weeks to find a solution.
In the approximately six-week preparation period, there is a training camp in the USA on the schedule from July 22 to August 3. The general rehearsal before the league kick-off takes place on August 10 against the Spanish club FC Valencia. On August 19, the Hessen are guests of Eintracht Braunschweig in the first round of the DFB Cup. A few days later, Toppmöller's team plays the first Bundesliga match of the season at Borussia Dortmund.
Toppmöller mentioned his desire for Eintracht Frankfurt to play more attractively than both England and France, teams known for their defensive strategies during the European Championship.
The failed transfer of national player Pascal Groß from Brighton & Hove Albion left a gap in Eintracht Frankfurt's central midfield position, prompting the club to consider potential options both in the transfer market and within their own ranks.
Portraying a positive attitude, Toppmöller looked forward to the upcoming Dino Toppmöller Training Camp in the USA, scheduled from July 22 to August 3, emphasizing that it would serve as a critical prelude to the Bundesliga kick-off on August 10 against FC Valencia.
The thirst for action was evident in Toppmöller's approach to preparing for the new season, as he and his team geared up for the DFB Cup opener against Eintracht Braunschweig on August 19, shortly followed by the first Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund.
Harnessing similar eagerness, newcomer Can Uzun, who joined Eintracht Frankfurt from 1. FC Nürnberg, was introduced to the 1,000-strong Eintracht Frankfurt fanbase, with Toppmöller expressing enthusiastic anticipation for Uzun's future contributions to the team, citing his "very, very great potential."
Despite a weak second round and the subsequent speculation about a separation, Eintracht Frankfurt would be playing in Hesse, as Toppmöller armed himself with optimism and a determined personality, setting his sights on reviving the ailing Bundesliga club.
