Following Eintracht Frankfurt’s recent disappointing Bundesliga draw, where they squandered a two-goal lead against relegation-threatened Köln, coach Albert Riera delivered an impassioned post-match press conference. While he tactfully avoided direct commentary on individual players like Mario Götze, Can Uzun, and Jonathan Burkardt – a shift from his previous defensiveness regarding Götze’s benching before the international break – Riera launched into a broader discussion on the team’s internal struggles, referencing “anger, love, and anxiety.” Götze, who recently signed an extension, had made a substitute appearance in the match.
Asked about Eintracht’s track record of only three wins in eight Bundesliga matches under his tenure, Riera pointed to the legacy of the previous coaching staff under Dino Toppmöller. He emphasized the ongoing challenge of eradicating a “losing mentality” from his squad.
Albert Riera’s Extensive Rant on “Solving the Problem”
Riera began his extensive five-minute response to the first question with an analysis of the game, stating, “It’s easy to analyze the game. I label [Köln] a goalkeeping team because they were playing long balls out via the goalkeeper. We stopped winning duels, and they scored goals because of that. We scored two goals and then we conceded two goals.” He consistently referred to “seven months of baggage,” making it clear he believes he inherited significant problems from his predecessor, Toppmöller.
When questioned about his anger or disappointment with the team, Riera responded, “If I were to be angry with them, what will I gain? They need my love, options, and feedback on how to do better. Tomorrow, the first thing I’ll give them is love and support.” He expressed optimism even after previous losses, stating, “The last game that we lost [before the international break] against Mainz made me happy because I know why we lost.” He emphasized the importance of problem identification: “In life, if you can’t identify the problem, you have a [bigger] problem because you have to solve the problem and you don’t know how to do it. Here, I know what the problem is, and I know how we can do better. I know what, how, and with whom. I can’t guarantee a timeframe for fixing the problem.”
Riera elaborated on the team’s struggles, linking them to “seven months of disappointment” and the resulting “anxiety.” He noted, “I told my players that they are playing with anxiety. They’re playing too fast and in a hurry. When we were leading 2-0, we needed to be defending the ball. Instead, we kept losing the ball because we were playing in too much of a hurry.” He stressed the need for tactical discipline: “When we play too quickly, accidents happen. We need to understand when to play fast, when to accelerate, and when to pause.” Riera revealed the severity of the situation he inherited, stating, “We were the worst team in Europe when it came to conceding goals when I came in February. Not in the Bundesliga, in all of Europe. I can prove it. We were coming from a place of frustration and disappointment. We need to forget about the past and be positive.”
Concluding his passionate address, Riera affirmed his commitment: “This is my job. Negativity? No. Not with my players. We need to win the next three points. That’s how I’m going to prepare this team and these players.” He acknowledged the underlying pressure, observing, “I can see that they are playing with this [fear] inside. This is a massive club with high expectations that was playing Champions League. I love this club, but we must solve the disappointments of the last seven months.”
Riera Sidesteps Mario Götze Question
Addressing the persistent questions about Mario Götze’s role, Riera maintained a general stance on squad selection: “Football is about today. Every match is different. I put different players on the tactics board based on my demands. My demands are that players do their job on and off the ball. Mario didn’t play one day, but will play another day. Some players didn’t play today because they didn’t fit or didn’t meet those demands.”
