Glasner concedes disappointment with Kamada's form: "Not working out as we hoped."
Eintracht Frankfurt trainer Oliver Glasner admitted that he was displeased with the recent form of buttressing attacker Daichi Kamada at his Thursday presser.
After battling a seemingly endless series of questions about his team's lack of motivation at a Thursday presser, Oliver Glasner finally got down to the brass tacks about which personnel he planned to field against Borussia Dortmund in this coming Saturday evening's "Top Spiel". Citing a lack of goals during the second half of the campaign from both (presently injured Jesper Lindstrøm) and Daichi Kamada, the SGE trainer admitted that he needed to try something different in order to "get Mario Götze into better scoring positions."
Glasner directly addressed the slumping form of Daichi Kamada, now a confirmed departure after the current season concludes. The SGE gaffer did take special care to emphasize that he had full confidence that Kamada remained committed to helping his team reach their goals for the season. Glasner also explicitly stated that Kamada would continue to enjoy the support of the club as they battle for a place in the DFB Pokal Final and a top-six finish.
The Japanese international nevertheless hasn't scored a goal since matchday 12 and has failed to register either a goal or an assist in the league in the new calendar year. With Rafael Santos Borré also failing to produce in a buttressing attack role behind lead-striker Randal Kolo Muani, Glasner may be looking at two other options. The newly returned Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe - despite being used as a makeshift wingback this year - is actually an attacking midfielder.
Young American Paxten Aaronson also impressed in his debut last week.
"He's very committed, but he lacks the natural finishing flair that he had in the autumn," Glasner said of Kamada, "Of course, we wish he would get back to that efficiency. He's also trying insanely hard to get there, but it's just not working out the way he and we would like it to."
Kamada has often been rotated in and out of the XI this year, sometimes serving as a six in midfield during European weeks. His start - in place of the suspended Götze - last week was widely regarded to be one of his worst performances of the season.