Glasner commits to Jakic in back-three, provides updates on rest of SGE squad
Missing Lucas Silva "Tuta" Melo to suspension and Hrvoje Smolcic to a season-ending injury, Eintracht Frankfurt trainer Oliver Glasner has revealed that midfielder Kristijian Jakic will once again be deputized to work in his back-three against Bochum on Friday.
Glasner also provided updates on players carrying light injuries and those returning from international duty.
Glasner also provided updates on players carrying light injuries and those returning from international duty.
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As has been the case several times this season, Croatian international Kristijian Jakic will be working in Eintracht Frankfurt head-coach Oliver Glasner's back-three-. This was revealed by the SGE gaffer at a Wednesday presser. Glasner revealed that Almamy Touré would be unavailable due to muscular issues and that Jakic's countryman Hrvoje Smolcic returned from international duty with the Croatian U21s carrying what was later revealed to be a season ending injury.
The Frankfurt back-line will thus consist of Jakic, Makoto Hasebe, and Evan N'dicka. Who will function as Glasner's wingbacks in his usual set up remains to be seen. Christopher Lenz and Philipp Max are returning from light injuries. Aurelio Buta might be given preference over Ansgar Knauff after the German youth international exhibited some form issues on international duty over the break.
Attackers Daichi Kamada and Rafael Santos Borré are actually both returning from international duty after facing one another in a friendly in Osaka on Tuesday. Jet lag may prove a factor for both the Colombian and Japanese international. Kamada may get a turn on the bench after, it was confirmed by Glasner, that Swiss international Djibril Sow "should be ready for action". Sow could play alongside Sebastian Rode in midfield.
Glasner seemed to hint that Borré would still start.
"I know Rafa very well," Glasner stressed, "He's hungry for any sort of deployment and will give everything."
Saisonaus für Hrvoje Smolcic: Der Verteidiger hat am Dienstag während des Länderspiels der U21 Kroatiens in England eine Außenmeniskusverletzung erlitten und wird am Montag operiert.
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@Eintracht) March 29, 2023
Gute Besserung, Hrvoje! Komm schnell zurück 🍀✊#SGE
