Bayern the 'benchmark' but Frankfurt looking to kick-start season as Hutter denies 'crisis' talk
Eintracht Frankfurt coach Adi Hutter has denied talk of a "crisis" at the club ahead of their trip to Bayern Munich, but is urging his players to begin performing on the pitch like they do in training amid an unsatisfactory season.
Frankfurt resumed their 2019-20 campaign last Saturday with a 3-1 defeat at home to Borussia Monchengladbach, who rarely appeared in any danger of dropping points – Andre Silva's consolation coming nine minutes from time with the visitors 3-0 up.
The result saw them pick up from where they left off before the coronavirus-enforced suspension, as they had lost back-to-back matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Basel, conceding seven goals in the process.
It will not be any easier this weekend when they go to pacesetters Bayern, who were easy 2-0 winners at Union Berlin last time out, but Hutter was keen to steer away from talk of a crisis with Frankfurt five points above the relegation play-off spot.
"We are not satisfied, the game against Gladbach showed us what we have to improve, but it went according to the season," he told reporters on Friday. "I'm not talking about a crisis, I'm talking about a team that trains hard. There are no nuances.
"I don't think about the result, but about the fact that the team does what it showed in training: to be compact. We need the conviction that we can perform well. Then there is a surprise in it.
...Kevin Trapp: “It’s not going to be any easier in Munich, we need to be on the ball right from the start.”#FCBSGE #SGE pic.twitter.com/JDZYDa1Ovw
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) May 22, 2020
"Bayern are the measure of all things in football – the benchmark. They're the clear favourite for the championship, the ultimate in German football.
"If our performance isn't right, it could be very uncomfortable. We have to get through the initial phase and remain highly concentrated. This applies especially to the duels, but also the forward game.
"Bayern are tactically flexible, appear homogeneous and variable with good counter-pressing. That was already the case with Niko Kovac, who, like Hansi Flick, did an outstanding job.
"They don't have many weak points. They not only have great individual players, they also harmonise well within the team and are broadly positioned everywhere on the pitch."
Victory for 13th-placed Frankfurt could take them up to 11th, but Bayern's win at Union extended their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to 12 matches and they are four points clear at the top of the table.