Bright and breezy | OneFootball

Eintracht began their final week of training this year with renewed energy but without the injured Tuta.

The Eagles squad still have three more training sessions to look forward to before facing 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Deutsche Bank Park in their final game of 2024 – and they are determined to end the year with three more points. “We need to go beyond our limits,” said sporting director Timmo Hardung. “That can hurt – and it will – but it’ll be worth it. Physical fatigue is not an issue in the squad.”

Hasebe pays a visit

As if they had been listening to their sporting director, the players put their noses to the grindstone in the first training session of the week on Wednesday morning, which lasted 90 minutes and took place in mild conditions. Four goalkeepers and 21 outfield players were involved, including youth players Ebu Bekir Is and Amil Siljevic. The youngsters’ participation was reason enough for Makoto Hasebe, assistant coach of Eintracht’s Under-21s, to observe the session from the sidelines.

Aside from long-term absentee Aurèle Amenda, Tuta was the only player not to take part. The defender has been struggling with a calf problem since Thursday evening and was forced to sit out Sunday’s game at Leipzig. Regardless of numbers and personnel, however, Wednesday’s session reflected what Hardung is demanding from the players – and indeed what they are demanding from themselves – namely “the absolute maximum”.

And irrespective of Eintracht’s position in the table, Hardung says one thing remains crystal clear: “Ending the year with a win would not only be good for the team, but all the backroom staff and particularly the fans, who have taken a lot upon themselves with all those away journeys in particular.”