Eintracht Frankfurt boss Markus Krösche ‘partially’ supportive of head coach Albert Riera after infamous press conference rant | OneFootball

Speaking shortly before kickoff in Saturday afternoon’s Bundesliga fixture, Eintracht Frankfurt Board Member for Sport Krösche addressed head coach Albert Riera’s now infamous press conference rant. Both Krösche and Riera offered fresh comments whilst conducting interviews with Sky Germany. The subject of Riera’s rant, German striker Jonathan Burkardt, was back in the starting XI and recorded an assist in the 1-2 home loss to Hamburg. 

Markus Krösche defends Albert Riera, yet remains critical

“I wouldn’t categorize it as a rant,” Krösche told  “He essentially spoke from the heart about what was bothering him. If we kook at things objectively, he actually didn’t say many controversial things.”

“That wasn’t exactly the friendliest way of putting things,” Krösche nevertheless continued when asked about Riera’s dramatic ‘If you don’t love this club, then leave‘ statement. “But it wasn’t totally malicious either.“

“Why not?” Krösche answered when asked whether Riera would be coaching Eintracht next season. “We’re not playing as well as we had hoped at the moment and we generally have higher standards for Eintracht Frankfurt, but one has to consider where we were [before Riera’s arrival].“

Riera speaks on Burkardt

“The players know: Anyone who doesn’t give 100 percent for this jersey can’t play for me,” Riera said of Burkardt. “Train well, give your all, and you’ll be in the starting lineup. His [Burkardt’s] reaction was great.”

GGFN | Peter Weis