Saturday, 2 December 2023
10pm
I shook hands with Axel, Managing Director Markus Kröschke, and General Manager Ben Manga.
"You used to come here regularly," Axel said as we sat down. "Didn't you?"
"We still drive up here on occasion," I replied.
"Nice comeback today," Markus said.
"Ja, it was. Thanks."
"Well, we're pretty impressed with what you've done at Kaiserslautern," Axel said. "Saved a founding member of the DFB and brought them back to the Bundesliga."
"What do you think about coming back?" Markus asked.
"I wouldn't have to move," I said. "So that's just one less thing for me to worry about. I'm here because I like your squad. Your squad is where I want to get Kaiserslautern except I wouldn't have to wait three to five years. Your squad should be challenging Bayern."
The waiter arrived and we placed our orders.
"So why aren't we challenging Bayern?" Axel asked.
"That is a complicated answer," I said. "First, I feel required to say that I have no idea what the squad thought of Pál Dárdai. What I do know is I use a different system than Pál did. On offense, my system is designed around creating and exploiting overloads. Defensively, its about defending in layers. I took a year off after I got the sack and thought through how I do everything. I've changed as a person and as a manager."
"So you think our squad is superior," Ben said. "But we only beat you because of the ref. Do you think you can get our squad playing above their level, as you say?"
"Ja, that's the gamble with bringing me back, isn't it?" I said. "I'm confident I can replicate my success at Kaiserslautern with you."
"Why didn't you succeed here before?" Axel asked.
"That's what I spent a year thinking about," I replied.
"Tell us more about overloads," Axel said.
"My new system does a better job of creating and exploiting overloads. Two on ones on the flanks, late runs that are nearly impossible to defend, and moving the ball quickly. Defensively, I make sure we have few one against one scenarios and the opponent always has to get through multiple defenders. Making sure there are no overloads. I also run my trainings slightly differently so that the players learn to see the overloads and understand instinctively how to exploit them or prevent them."
"Why are Kaiserslautern so difficult to beat?" Markus asked. "You only had that one bad loss to ... um ... Freiburg?"
"Ja, that Freiburg match was bad," I said. "I have a squad full of players who were cast aside or never got a chance. They are hungry and desperate."
"Can you get our squad playing that way?" Markus asked.
"I think I can. While they aren't castoffs, nobody can match FC Hollywood. I'm pretty good at motivating my players, I think I can use Bayern's level of sustained success as the mountain top we need to aim for. Clearly, I'd use the rest of the season to determine what players I can count on. To see where we are squad-wise."
"What about working with me?" Ben said.
"I think we had a good working relationship when you were Chief Scout. I don't see why that wouldn't continue in your new role."
Our food arrived.
We talked more generally about Fußball but it would occasionally wander back to the problems and challenges that Eintracht Frankfurt faced.
"Thanks for the lovely dinner, guys," I said. "Thanks for the opportunity."
"Ja, and thanks for meeting with us, Enrico," Axel said. "We'll be in touch."
