Eintracht Frankfurt will open their new Bundesliga season away at Union Berlin on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. under returning head coach Adi Hütter. The Hessen club enters the fixture with a new goalkeeper but an incomplete squad, as Hütter repeatedly scaled back expectations during Thursday's pre-match press conference.
Press conferences before season openers in Frankfurt's long history have often sparked more euphoria than Thursday's event. Hütter dutifully stated at the start of the questioning that he was looking forward to the opening match in Berlin, but his detailed remarks made clear that he remains dissatisfied with the team's current condition.
The Austrian coach explained that the squad has only been working together for five or six weeks, noting that not everything is functioning as he envisions. He set early parameters for the discussion, acknowledging that while he sees progress in every training session, the team still needs to improve across all areas.
Eintracht has continued to evolve since the sacking of previous manager Albert Riera, moving back towards its identity, though cleanup and restoration work remains ongoing. Under Riera, the team used a 4-2-3-1 formation in an unsuccessful attempt to play possession-based football. Hütter prefers a 4-2-2-2 system centered on early pressing, quick transitions, and high intensity. He stressed that such a fundamental tactical shift cannot happen overnight, adding that while the players are working hard, they are not yet fully prepared.
Squad reconstruction and transfer demands
Tactical changes have been further complicated by summer roster turnover and unfinished squad planning under board member for sport Markus Krösche. Hütter described the transfer window as difficult, pointing to a total of 11 player departures that left clear positional gaps in both defense and attack.
Hütter stated clearly that signing another center-back would be very important for the team. He also included a high-caliber striker on his personal wishlist, noting that if spare funds remain available, he would not refuse further attacking reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Tuesday's deadline day.
New arrival between the posts
Eintracht addressed its primary squad issue on Thursday by finalizing a deal for goalkeeper Noah Atubolu to become the new number one. Hütter emphasized several times during the press conference that the paperwork was not yet signed, but expressed relief that Atubolu is arriving to end months of instability in goal.
Club patience with Kaua Santos expired following a 7-0 friendly defeat against English Premier League side Brentford. Hütter praised Atubolu's strengths and stated that the club is glad to secure his services, hoping his arrival will restore calm between the posts.
Atubolu could feature for Eintracht for the first time at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday, subject to final training and discussions with goalkeeper coach Jan Zimmermann. Hütter remarked that unless Atubolu has other appointments or left his gloves in Freiburg, he will stand between the posts. The future of Santos and fellow goalkeeper Michael Zetterer remains uncertain, though an offer has reportedly been received from English club Leeds for Zetterer.
Team fitness and injury updates
While Atubolu is expected to line up in goal, striker Jonathan Burkardt is set to lead the attack against Union Berlin. Burkardt, identified as the top forward in a limited attacking selection, has recovered from an illness and returned to full training on Thursday. Hütter stated that he expects Burkardt to be available for the Bundesliga opener.
Conversely, Eintracht will be without Hugo Larsson, Ritsu Doan, and Ansgar Knauff. Swedish midfielder Larsson and Japanese midfielder Doan have resumed running training after muscle problems, but the intense trip to Berlin comes too early for both. Knauff suffered a thigh injury that will keep him out longer, though Hütter expressed hope that he could return to training in two weeks. The absences spare the head coach prolonged selection dilemmas, effectively determining the starting lineup.
Season expectations and upcoming challenges
Hütter warned against elevated expectations ahead of the opener, recalling fundamental football principles. He noted that while the team is capable of winning matches, securing victory will require a top-level performance, adding that failure to deliver could make the match uncomfortable.
Eintracht Frankfurt urgently requires a positive start to the season to prevent unrest around the club from growing. However, pre-match discussions left the impression that even Hütter remains unconvincing about the team's readiness, leaving the Hessen club to start its campaign amid significant uncertainty.
