Eintracht Frankfurt's 90-Minute Struggle After Augsburg Defeat

Just two Bundesliga matches into the season, and a sense of alarm is already palpable around Eintracht Frankfurt. While club officials publicly urge patience and trust, the mood among supporters of the Hessian club is decidedly more concerned.

Following a 3-3 draw in Berlin, where Eintracht squandered a 3-1 lead, the team suffered a significant 1-4 defeat against FC Augsburg on Sunday, despite holding a 1-0 advantage at halftime. Two games, two instances of leading, one point gained, and seven goals conceded. It's understandable why fans are worried.

'We Must Address This Immediately'

"This is what we need to address as quickly as possible," stated Adi Hütter, referring to both the string of conceded goals and the recurring issue of surrendering leads. However, the Austrian coach also added, "I am not worried, though."

Hütter pointed to the positive aspects of the match, particularly the entire first half. During this period, his team largely dominated the opponent, with Jonathan Burkardt scoring the opening goal in the sixth minute. "The first half is the kind of football I envision," Hütter remarked. The only criticism that could be leveled against Eintracht was their failure to score a second or third goal despite having good opportunities.

Collapse After the Break

The issue for the Hessian side was clearly not their approach or a lack of skill. However, Hütter critically noted, "A football match lasts 90 minutes, not just 45. The second half was a far cry from what I want to see."

The high-energy football displayed in the first half was completely absent from SGE's play after the break. FCA turned the game around with a quick double strike in the 46th and 47th minutes, and the ensuing insecurity within the home team was palpable, leading to two more goals conceded. The fact that Hütter brought on the 36-year-old Timothy Chandler in the 69th minute, with the score at 1-3, in an attempt to inject some life into the Waldstadion, speaks volumes.

'No Need to Question Everything'

The criticism Eintracht is facing is that the squad is not strong enough, with a lack of alternatives at full-back and in attack. When asked if he was now considering looking for unemployed full-backs, squad planner Markus Krösche responded succinctly, "No." He continued, "We have young players, and we trust them. Although we lost, there's no need to question everything now."

Krösche's argument is certainly valid after just two matchdays. However, if Eintracht continues to concede three or four goals regularly in upcoming games, he will have to accept such criticism. The team's next opponents are Mainz 05, SC Freiburg, and RB Leipzig.

Eintracht remains confident that they can soon alleviate the fans' concerns. "The team and the coach deserve trust," said Eintracht's spokesperson Axel Hellmann – before the match against FC Augsburg. His statement has likely gained even more urgency following the game.