One week after Adi Hütter openly contemplated changing Eintracht Frankfurt’s basic formation in search of greater stability, the Austrian followed through. The result was Frankfurt’s first Bundesliga victory of the season. Hütter abandoned the 4-2-2-2 that had defined much of his work since returning to the club, switched to a back three and watched Eintracht respond to their chastening 1-4 loss against Augsburg with a 3-1 away victory over Mainz 05.
The changes went considerably further than simply adding another central defender. Jeremiaha Maluze joined Robin Koch and Lilian Brassier in the back line. Elias Baum and Keita Kosugi were afforded roles with greater protection around them. Noël Aséko entered the starting XI alongside Raphael Onyedika, while Jonathan Burkardt operated as Frankfurt’s lone striker.
The most notable casualty was Younes Ebnoutalib.
Adi Hütter follows through on tactical rethink
“I’ll need to think about potentially changing the basic formation in order to make us more stable,” Hütter said last Sunday.
Six days later, he did precisely that.
“Thanks for the question,” Hütter said when asked to explain the change at the post-match press conference after the Mainz victory. “Everyone assumed I just wanted to play in the 4-2-2-2. The last time I was in Frankfurt, we also successfully played in a back three with Makoto Hasebe. This back three brought us this victory today. I like to remain flexible as a coach.
“This was a strong statement,” Hütter told Sky Germany. “We had to deal a lot with problems in the second half [against Augsburg]. We analyzed it well and the team implemented the solution well. The back three proved themselves today.”
Ebnoutalib sacrificed as Burkardt leads the line
Changing the defensive structure forced Hütter into an uncomfortable attacking decision. Ebnoutalib had arguably done the least of any Frankfurt player to warrant losing his place. The 22-year-old scored a hat-trick in the opening 3-3 draw at Union Berlin before assisting Burkardt’s goal against Augsburg. Nevertheless, Hütter’s desire to add another central defender meant one striker had to disappear from the starting XI.
“It’s easy enough to explain,” Hütter said at the press conference. “If one adds one at the back, one has to sacrifice one at the front. Obviously, I spoke to both of them at the same time. I told Younes that it wasn’t anything personal. It was just a matter of having a feeling that Johnny would take it here at his old stomping ground. I am sorry about it as the two fit together well, but it’s about the win at the end of the day.”
Hütter’s intuition regarding Burkardt proved accurate.
The former Mainz striker created Frankfurt’s opening goal after Kacper Potulski lost possession, breaking forward before squaring for Can Uzun. Burkardt then scored himself shortly before halftime, using his body intelligently to hold off Fabio Gruber before finishing past Robin Zentner.
The lone-striker role also demanded considerable work without the ball. Burkardt covered large distances, battled Mainz’s central defenders and gave Frankfurt an outlet whenever Hütter’s team transitioned forward. The Germany international nevertheless resisted the suggestion that the formation itself explained the improvement.
“The [tactical change] helped us focus on remaining compact,” Burkardt told Sky Germany. “I don’t think it was the most decisive thing. The most decisive thing is that we all worked together. It was helpful, but not the most decisive thing.”
Aseko starts, Götze changes role
Hütter also made a significant midfield decision. Only a week earlier, the Frankfurt coach had said Aséko was not yet sufficiently advanced physically to start after knee problems cost the summer signing almost the entirety of pre-season. Against Mainz, Hütter changed course.
The 20-year-old made both his Frankfurt and Bundesliga debut from the beginning, bringing additional athleticism alongside Onyedika in central areas. The move also changed Mario Götze’s role. Rather than beginning in central midfield as he had against Augsburg, the veteran entered shortly before the hour mark.
His impact was immediate. Götze combined with Ritsu Doan on the right, continued his run toward the byline and supplied the cutback from which Uzun scored his second goal for a 3-0 lead.
Aséko provided the physical presence required from the start. Once Frankfurt possessed a lead and Mainz needed to take greater risks, Götze entered to provide greater control and creativity on the ball.
“Aséko has shown himself in training in recent weeks,” Hütter told Sky. “He’s a player for the future. He did well playing from the start. Then Mario Götze came off the bench and did a super job setting up that third goal.”
Atubolu provides the decisive moment
The tactical changes did not eliminate every Frankfurt problem. Mainz grew increasingly dangerous after the opening half-hour and received an excellent opportunity to equalize when Onyedika fouled Sheraldo Becker inside the penalty area. Nadiem Amiri stepped forward having converted ten consecutive penalties. Noah Atubolu saved.
Three minutes later, Burkardt doubled Frankfurt’s advantage. Hütter repeatedly emphasized afterward that no tactical analysis of the victory should ignore that sequence. It offered an important qualification to the success of the new system.
Frankfurt were more compact. The back three provided greater protection. Burkardt flourished as the lone striker. Aséko justified his promotion and Götze influenced proceedings immediately from the bench.
They still required their goalkeeper to prevent the match from returning to 1-1.
