Toppmöller plans to stick with set tactics against Heidenheim
Eintracht Frankfurt head-coach Dino Toppmöller strongly suggested that - despite mixed results - he wished to adhere to his 4-4-2 system in the forthcoming league fixture against Heidenheim. Speaking at a presser yesterday, the SGE trainer also provided squad injury updates.
The 4-4-2 system utilized by Eintracht Frankfurt trainer Dino Toppmöller in last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg didn't exactly garner rave reviews. Frankfurt's continued underachieving (five games without a win and an exit from Europe) have led to the 43-year-old taking plenty of heat in the German press. Several editorials - including some appearing in Germany's preeminent footballing publication and the country's main sporting tabloid - have called for Toppmöller's ouster, at the latest at the end of the season.
Speaking at his Thursday pre-match presser, the SGE trainer noted that he and the coaching staff felt the time had come to implement consistency with the squad. This very likely means that the same 4-4-2 shape deployed last week will once again be used against Heidenheim this weekend. Some personnel changes will obviously be in order. Mario Götze, Fares Chaibi, or possibly Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe will pair up with Tuta on the double-six axis in place of Donny van de Beek. The Manchester United loanee played particularly poorly out of position.
Toppmöller must current plan without his two preferred midfielders. Young Swedish phenom Hugo Larsson - while fit enough for the match-day squad after rehabbing a recent injury - remains unavailable for a start at the upcoming away fixture. Toppmöller conveyed this at the media round, also noting that Ellyes Skhiri remained questionable for the encounter after having to sit out last week. After noting that there are "players we would prefer to have", the SGE gaffer effectively committed to the 4-4-2.
"The coaching staff and I have been talking it over," Toppmöller said, "It's important to give the team a certain sense of security, especially during a phase in which you're not getting the results you want. It's important to get into regular routines via a system."